Key stakeholders in Nigeria's university system have called on institutions to treat international grant acquisition as a strategic priority and move away from near total dependence on government funding.

The call was made at a workshop organised by the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities in partnership with Optimal Delivery Solutions Projects and Corporate Services Limited, held at the CVCNU Secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday. The event was themed "Unlocking Global Funding: Resource Mobilisation and International Grantsmanship for Nigerian Universities."

Managing Director of Optimal Delivery Solutions Projects and Corporate Services Limited, Ken Oguzie, set the tone for the discussions, urging university leadership to take direct ownership of the grants process. "Grant writing is not merely a technical skill. It is a strategic capability," he stated. "I encourage Vice Chancellors to take leadership in this area. When leadership prioritises grants, the institution follows."

Oguzie also emphasised the role of collaboration in improving funding outcomes. "The most successful grants today are collaborative; across universities, countries, and disciplines. Nigerian universities must actively seek partnerships, within Africa and internationally. Collaboration increases credibility, expands expertise, and significantly improves success rates," he added.

He further stressed that Nigerian research must engage with global development priorities without losing local identity. "Our research must speak to these priorities while offering uniquely Nigerian and African perspectives. This is how we become globally relevant," Oguzie noted.

CVCNU Secretary General, Professor Andrew Haruna, acknowledged that most institutions continue to rely heavily on government subventions despite available alternatives. "For many universities, reliance on government subventions remains dominant, while alternative funding opportunities through international grants, industry partnerships, and collaborative research networks are not fully explored or strategically pursued," he disclosed.

Haruna expressed hope that participants would leave with actionable strategies. "We expect that participants will leave this workshop with practical strategies that can help their institutions move from occasional grant success to a more structured and sustainable culture of research funding and resource mobilisation," he added.

Lead Consultant Akanimo Odon addressed sustainable grant sourcing strategies, while CVCNU Research Officer and Facilitator Joy Ambrose Ezirim highlighted the importance of institutional branding and online visibility. Ezirim also noted that the workshop created space for networking and inter university collaboration to expand participation in international research funding.