Ronke Kehinde/
Lead City University, Ibadan, will host the 2025 Conference of the Institute of Operational Research and Management Science of Nigeria (IORMS).
The previous edition of the conference was held at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Now in its sixth edition, the annual conference promotes the application of Operational Research (OR) practices and innovative solutions. It serves as a forum for researchers and experts to explore ways to address pressing economic challenges.
The 2025 conference is themed: “Optimizing Nigeria’s Development: Operational Research and AI as Catalysts.” Reflecting on the theme, Acting Registrar of IORMS, Mr. Olugbenga Oso, noted in a conversation with reporters that leveraging OR and AI resources enables decision intelligence, which in turn fosters development optimization.
During a courtesy and familiarisation visit to the Vice Chancellor of Lead City University, Professor Kabiru Adeyemo, IORMS Vice President, Dr. Olabode Adewoye, highlighted that this year’s conference coincides with the 50th anniversary of EURO (Association of European Operational Research Societies), which will also hold its celebration at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom later in the month.
Dr. Adewoye was accompanied by members of the IORMS Governing Council, including Prof. Bola Dixon-Ogbechi (Treasurer), Mr. Olugbenga Oso (Acting Registrar), and Prof. Mumuni Adamu.
Explaining the importance of the event, Dr. Adewoye stated that IORMS is a recognized Nigerian body dedicated to promoting, teaching, and regulating Operational Research in the country. He emphasized that hosting the conference will benefit Lead City University by exposing its staff and students to global opportunities in OR.
He added that Lead City University’s role as host will be highlighted in the upcoming issue of the International Federation of Operational Research Societies (IFORS) newsletter—the global body representing OR societies worldwide.
Dr. Adewoye elaborated, “Operational Research is about optimization—maximizing gains or minimizing costs. It’s also a system improvement science. Even when systems are working well, there is always room for improvement.”
He also announced that in the lead-up to the conference, IORMS will organize a workshop to introduce the university community to Operational Research, emphasizing its academic and professional benefits, including access to resources, grants, and global networks.
In his response, Vice Chancellor Prof. Kabiru Adeyemo, who has taught OR for many years, acknowledged the discipline’s relevance across fields such as computer science, management, accounting, marketing, and economics. He praised the university’s history of hosting impactful conferences and reiterated its openness to collaborations that bring visibility and value.
“This is a private university, and we need to maximize opportunities. Hosting this conference will benefit our students, staff, and the university as a whole. We’re delighted to partner with IORMS in this endeavour,” he said.
Prof. Adeyemo was joined by the university’s Registrar, Dr. Oyebola Ayeni, the Bursar, and members of the Local Organizing Committee, including Dr. Wilson Sakpere (Computer Science), Prof. Olatunde Yara (Mathematics), and Prof. Adebo Babatunde (Physics), among others.
0
