Three leading scholars from the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) have secured high-value scientific equipment worth tens of millions of naira through strategic partnerships with two internationally renowned institutions, marking a major milestone for the university’s research capacity.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday, the beneficiaries — Professor Joshua Ogunwole, Professor Olayide Lawal, and Professor Cecilia Akintayo — attracted the equipment from Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering in the U.S. and the science-focused NGO, Seeding Labs.
Professor Ogunwole obtained a Connected Autonomous Space Environment Sensor GPS receiver valued at $15,000 through the VT-NigerBEAR project, a collaborative research initiative with Virginia Tech. The device is expected to significantly enhance Nigeria’s capabilities in atmospheric and space weather research.
Simultaneously, Professors Lawal and Akintayo facilitated the acquisition of advanced laboratory infrastructure worth $25,000 from Seeding Labs. The equipment package includes PCR thermal cyclers, chromatography systems (FPLC and AKTA explore modules), desiccator cabinets, rotary evaporators, chemical dryers, precision balances, and Buchi heating baths — tools that will benefit research across industrial chemistry, agriculture, and other STEM disciplines at FUOYE.
Virginia Tech’s Associate Vice Provost, Professor Wayne A. Scales, commended Prof. Ogunwole’s academic contributions, describing the collaboration as promising for Nigeria’s growing scientific footprint. Dr. Melissa Wu, CEO of Seeding Labs, also applauded FUOYE’s application, stating that the university “demonstrated key qualities needed to unlock Africa’s scientific potential.”
Reacting to the development, Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olubunmi Shittu, described the grants as a testament to FUOYE’s rising global recognition. She praised the support of the substantive Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina, for approving the university’s $10,000 counterpart funding and personally donating ₦2 million to facilitate logistics.
“This is a proud moment for FUOYE, especially for the Department of Chemistry. These awards reflect our faculty’s commitment to research excellence and international collaboration,” Shittu stated.
She added that with the new facilities now on campus, FUOYE is positioned to expand its role in interdisciplinary research, train a new generation of African scientists, and contribute meaningfully to global scientific solutions.
This development underscores FUOYE’s steady transformation into a hub for innovation and a key player in solving both local and international research challenges.
