| Admin
Babcock University’s Provost and Dean of the School of Law and Security Studies, Professor Dorcas Odunaike, has called for institutions to harness collective strengths in order to remain resilient in the face of modern challenges. Delivering her paper at the 2026 Colloquium, which opened on October 7 at the University Amphitheatre, she underscored the need for collaboration across boundaries as a foundation for building stronger organizations.
The colloquium, a flagship academic gathering at Babcock University, brought together scholars, administrators, and staff to explore strategies for institutional growth and sustainability. Professor Odunaike’s remarks set the tone for discussions on how universities and similar organizations can adapt to shifting socio-economic, and security landscapes by leveraging the diverse talents within their communities.
In her paper, "Linking Strengths for Collaborative Workforce she noted that collaboration multiplies individual and departmental impact, while faith and mission provide the foundation for all that is done in the University. She described Babcock's greatest asset as teamwork, stressing that every faculty member, department and staff has a vital role to play.
"Let us support the GRACE agenda with our best effort; mentor a colleague, co-author a paper, share expertise and commit to continuous improvement in our roles," she stated.
Professor Odunaike recommended intentional collaboration beyond departmental silos and the promotion of multi-disciplinary research by encouraging faculty from different disciplines to co-author papers, co-supervise students and co-design programmes. She also called for the encouragement of problem-solving research that addresses real Nigerian and African challenges in areas such as health, agriculture, energy, education and governance.
Professor Odunaike further urged the University community to pursue global funding by actively applying for international research grants, and to strengthen partnerships by deepening relationships with industry, government, NGOs and international universities for research, internships and funding among others.
According to her, student-led technology breakthroughs represent the next generation of BU innovators in areas such as solar energy systems, food technology, mobile applications and award-winning research.
“The innovations of today are the solutions of tomorrow's world,” she said adding, “Effective linkage of strengths would bring about better coordination, while innovations from cross-departmental collaborations would spark creative solutions and new approaches to old problems.”