UniAbuja gives six students N5.45m research grant

The University of Abuja has awarded research grants totalling N5.45 million to six undergraduate student research teams from the institution.

This milestone marks the highest grant disbursement since the initiative’s inception, aimed at promoting impactful research among young scholars.

The grants were presented on Tuesday, during the 6th Undergraduate Research Day, organised by the university’s Centre for Undergraduate Research.

Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, highlighted the importance of research in addressing national challenges and fostering development.

“At the University of Abuja, we are dedicated to creating an environment where curiosity, creativity, and innovation thrive to produce solutions for societal issues,” Maikudi said.

She urged students to embrace research as a tool for driving change and contributing to Nigeria’s growth, emphasizing that the event’s theme, ‘Promoting National Development Through Research,’ aligns with the university’s vision for purposeful and solution-oriented inquiry.

The Vice-Chancellor commended the efforts of the Centre for Undergraduate Research and assured continued support for research activities, noting that initiatives like this prepare students to become thought leaders and change-makers in diverse fields.

The Director of the Centre, Prof. Taibat Atoyebi, detailed the selection process for the grants.

She revealed that 20 student teams initially expressed interest, out of which 13 were shortlisted to submit research proposals.

“Following oral defences, six teams were awarded the grants based on the originality, sustainability, and practicability of their projects,’’ she added.

The funded projects include: Bioactive Compounds from K. pinnata and J. tanjorensis: Isolation, Characterisation, and Evaluation of Anti-anaemic and Hepatoprotective Effects in Rats.

Assessment of Biosafety and Waste Management Practices in Abattoirs in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.

Application of Vermitechnology in Solid Waste Management and Sustainable Agriculture.

Evaluating the Phytochemicals and Antidiabetic Properties of Curry Leaves.

Using AI and ML to Model Energy Consumption in University of Abuja’s Students’ Hostels: A Macroeconomic Approach.

Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Properties of Calopogonium Mucunoides and Mitracarpus Species (Rubiaceae) Against Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae.