The University of Ilorin Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies (CPSS) has organised a five-day capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening research skills and proposal-writing competence among its Ph.D. students.

The initiative, held from February 10, 2026, focused on equipping students to become comprehensive knowledge producers rather than merely holders of doctoral degrees.

Speaking to UNILORIN Bulletin, the Director of CPSS, Prof. Abdul-Jelil Gbemisola Animasawun, said, “We want to build your capacity to make you a total knowledge producer, not just a Ph.D. degree holder.”

The workshop covered remote empirical research, data management, and analysis using advanced technology, reflecting changes accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Prof. Animasawun emphasized that students must be adept at leveraging digital tools to improve research efficiency, expand reach, and maintain control over their projects.

He underscored the importance of data integrity and ethical research practices, warning that falsifying data is a serious academic offence. “The harm done by forging data in research can be greater than producing a fake medicine,” he said.

New accountability measures were introduced requiring Ph.D. students to present and verify their data before seminars or post-field reports, ensuring the credibility of research outputs and the university’s academic legacy.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, was commended for supporting the workshop, which aligns with the university’s priority of fostering high-quality, impactful scholarship.

The lead resource person, Prof. J. Shola Omotola of Federal University Oye-Ekiti, praised the initiative and encouraged other universities to adopt similar programs to strengthen research capacity.

Participating Ph.D. students, including Mr. Soja Dantanimu, Mr. Femi Shotayo, Mr. Alloy Chukwuemeka, Mr. Sunday Obioma Ibeh, and Mrs. Rukayat Bunmi Gold, expressed appreciation for the workshop, highlighting its role in introducing them to modern research methodologies and tools.

They credited their choice of UNILORIN for its reputation for academic excellence and said the skills gained would enable them to contribute effectively to peace and security development in Nigeria and beyond.