| Godwin Ugbaka
Prof Afolarin Olutunde Ojewole (middle) presents a souvenir to Professor Samuel Oladipo (right) while Professor Jonathan Nwosu (left) looks on.
President/Vice Chancellor, Prof Afolarin Olutunde Ojewole exchanges views with Vice Chancellor, Tai Solarin University of Education, Professor Samuel Oladipo who paid him a courtesy visit recently.
TASUED, Babcock University Explore Collaboration on Power, Security, Research and Innovation The Vice Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education [TASUED], Professor Samuel Oladipo, has paid a courtesy visit to Babcock University’s President/Vice Chancellor, Professor Afolarin Ojewole, to discuss possible areas of collaboration, particularly in power generation, security, and research administration. Professor Oladipo was accompanied by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Professor Rotimi Ettu, and the Director of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance, Professor Jimoh Owoyele. He said the reception from his host was warm and that he was able to identify concrete areas for partnership. “The VC president was able to provide information that is very useful in the sense that we can now link up with the people who are generating or supplying power to Babcock. We can take it up from there. It's just easy and simple to the best of my knowledge,” Professor Oladipo said. On security, he noted that his host promised to connect TASUED with organizations and individuals who can assist. For research, he said there are possible areas for joint work, conferences, and similar initiatives. Professor Oladipo also said TASUED is willing to collaborate with Babcock through its Tech Hub for innovative students. “Basically, anyone who has any innovation in terms of technology, we provide seed grant for them. They can use it to execute their project and then we help them to scale it up and help them to patent in the Tertiary Incubation Hub, Technology Incubation Hub [TIHUB],” he explained. He added that the hub also assists students to register their businesses so they can become entrepreneurs rather than job seekers. The hub is open to students from other institutions, including Babcock, who have ideas and need seed grants and support. Responding, Professor Ojewole said Babcock is willing to collaborate with TASUED as the closest university, especially to access TETFund. He noted that private universities cannot access TETFund directly unless they collaborate with public institutions that qualify. On power generation, he said he would link the TASUED team with a consultant who has worked for Babcock. On security, he explained that Babcock uses a mix of in-house trained personnel and outsourced services. “Right now, it's mostly in-house for us and individuals that have been trained and have continued to be trained and have been connected. There have been times when we have outsourced,” he said. He also highlighted Babcock’s use of CCTV and solar-powered lighting across hostels, classrooms, and the campus. “We believe in CCTVs in our hostels, in our classrooms, and around campus… We also have a good supply of solar powered light. Because no matter what you have, once there is light, darkness wants to flee,” he said.