Yilwatda Donates N100 Million to Akwa Ibom State University for Research Purposes

Yilwatda

By KEMI KAYODE

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has announced a personal donation of ₦100 million to Akwa Ibom State University to support cutting-edge research with direct societal and economic impact.

He also.pledged to link the Vice Chacellor of the University with appropriate authorities in the United States of America to set up a world class institute with the University campus. This, he said will make the students of the institution globally competitive.

Professor Yilwatda made the donation in line with his strong advocacy for repositioning Nigerian universities as engines of innovation, national development, and global competitiveness.

He stated that the grant is dedicated to strengthening research output that addresses pressing national challenges and translates knowledge into practical solutions.

According to him, research is the soul of a world-class university, but research without impact remains ineffective unless it illuminates society, informs policy, and fuels innovation.

He noted that Nigeria’s investment in research remains below 0.5 per cent of GDP—far beneath the OECD benchmark of 2 per cent—describing this gap not as a limitation, but as a clear opportunity for visionary intervention.

Professor Yilwatda explained that the research fund is expected to prioritise high-impact areas critical to Nigeria’s present and future, including flood modelling in coastal regions, climate adaptation strategies in the Niger Delta, optimisation of offshore oil production, sustainable fisheries management, and renewable energy integration.