Dr. Tunji Olowolafe Advocates for Research Innovation in Nigeria

At the 65th anniversary celebration of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, Founder of the Tunji Olowolafe Foundation, called for a rethinking of research, access, and innovation in Nigerian universities. He emphasized the need to open research to a broader audience and to rigorously test long-held beliefs.

Dr. Olowolafe described postgraduate colleges as vital for national intellectual development and proposed that OAU should set benchmarks for African education, particularly in science and artificial intelligence. He highlighted the importance of flexible, digital study models, especially given that only about one million of the two million UTME candidates were admitted in 2025.

His strategies included validating indigenous knowledge, pushing research into the economy, and rewarding patents and commercial products. He also mentioned the Foundation's Gbemisola Olowolafe Memorial Community Secondary School, which opened in September 2025, and its focus on ICT and artificial intelligence education.