APC Chairman Donates ₦100 Million To Akwa Ibom Varsity for Impactful Research

Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has committed ₦100 million from his personal funds to Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) as a grant to fund innovative research aimed at tackling Nigeria’s key challenges and boosting economic growth.

The donation, announced through a press statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, aligns with Yilwatda’s long-standing push to transform Nigerian universities into hubs of innovation and global competitiveness. NaijaChoice News reports that this initiative comes at a time when Nigeria’s research investment lags below 0.5 percent of GDP, well short of the 2 percent benchmark set by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a gap Yilwatda described as an “opportunity for visionary intervention.”

In addition to the financial support, the APC chairman pledged to connect AKSU’s Vice Chancellor with relevant authorities in the United States to establish a world-class institute on the university campus. This partnership, he explained, would equip students with skills to compete on the global stage. “Research is the soul of a world-class university, but research without impact remains ineffective unless it illuminates society, informs policy, and fuels innovation,” Yilwatda stated in the release.

NaijaChoice News gathered that the grant will prioritize high-priority areas such as flood modelling in coastal zones, climate adaptation in the Niger Delta, offshore oil production optimization, sustainable fisheries, and renewable energy integration. Yilwatda emphasized the need to harness technologies like artificial intelligence-driven modelling, big data analytics, and digital platforms to ensure research delivers real-world benefits, especially in environmentally vulnerable regions like Akwa Ibom.

Citing examples from top global institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford University, the chairman highlighted how interdisciplinary approaches and industry ties have spurred development. He believes AKSU can achieve similar feats by leveraging local resources with an international perspective.

Yilwatda further committed to increasing the grant if the initial ₦100 million is used transparently and effectively. He plans to personally oversee the projects to guarantee accountability and results. Beyond research, he advocated for enhanced teaching through blended learning, AI adaptive systems, virtual labs, and simulations in fields like marine biology and energy analytics.

“This intervention is about building capacity, credibility, and confidence in Nigerian research. When research is impactful, universities become catalysts of development, and nations become globally competitive,” Yilwatda added.

The move has been hailed as a key step in bridging leadership, academia, and national progress, positioning AKSU as a beacon of excellence. NaijaChoice News notes that similar educational donations, such as those by other political figures in recent years, underscore a growing trend of private support for Nigerian institutions amid funding shortages.

This development follows widespread coverage by major outlets, signaling strong backing for Yilwatda’s vision in advancing Nigeria’s knowledge economy.