AUST President Harps On The Need For Grant Writing Trainings

Abuja. May 6, 2025 — In a bold step towards advancing research and innovation capacity, the AUST President, Professor Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, FAS, convened an intensive grant writing training session.

The training which took place at the Austinspire Hub, aimed at equipping academics and professionals with practical skills in developing competitive research proposals.

The session, attended by the faculty, emerging researchers, and mentors, kicked off with an overview from Professor Onwualu.

He emphasized the importance of hands-on learning through real-world case studies. “Even as a professor, I’m still learning the business of writing successful grant proposals,” he admitted, reinforcing the session’s collaborative and growth-oriented tone.

The event aligns with the broader goal of the University’s emerging Grant Writing Committee, which is expected to host series of similar seminars in the future.

“What we are doing today is what the committee will eventually be doing—bringing people together to learn and share,” Professor Onwualu explained.

He envisioned a future where at least ten research projects from the university secure funding, underscoring the need for continuous learning and institutional support.

During the session, participants engaged with mentors and received insights into two key technical components critical to grant success.

Professor Onwualu highlighted the value of using live grant opportunities as teaching tools, stating, “There will always be calls, so we will always have these kinds of sessions.”

The initiative represents a significant stride toward building a sustainable research culture, fostering collaboration, and demystifying the grant writing process for scholars at all levels.