Kaduna State University (KASU), in collaboration with Fondazione per la Ricerca Farmacologica Gianni Benzi Onlus, Italy, held a one-day virtual workshop on Grant Opportunities on Monday, 13th October 2025.
The workshop, hosted by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Ibrahim Musa, brought together academic staff, researchers, and administrators to explore international funding avenues that can enhance research and innovation within the university and beyond.
The guest speaker, Ms. Lucia Ruggieri, a researcher and scientific officer from the Gianni Benzi Foundation, delivered an insightful presentation on “EU Funding Opportunities for Research and Innovation.” Her presentation covered key areas such as the EU funding structure, Horizon Europe programmes, EU-Africa cooperation, and other relevant funding options for global researchers.
Ms. Ruggieri highlighted opportunities available for non-EU researchers under the European Research Council (ERC) grants and the EURAXESS Africa initiative, which provides free access to information on research funding, collaboration, and mobility opportunities. She further explained how African institutions and researchers can engage in Horizon Europe collaborations and benefit from international partnerships.
The facilitator, Mr. Abubakar Abdulkareem, Deputy Director of Grants, guided participants through the practical stages of developing and submitting successful research proposals — from idea conception and eligibility checks to proposal design, evaluation, and grant implementation.
In his closing remarks, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Yushau Ango, expressed appreciation to the guest speaker and the Italian foundation for their collaboration and for supporting KASU’s vision to strengthen research capacity through international partnerships.
The session concluded with participants engaging in a series of questions and discussions on how KASU researchers can better position themselves for global research opportunities.
The workshop reaffirmed KASU’s commitment to promoting research excellence and fostering international collaborations that contribute to scientific advancement and innovation in Nigeria.