UNILAG Hosts UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office Delegation
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) welcomed a delegation from the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on December 9, 2024, to assess progress on two funded projects: the Innovation to Market (I2M) project and the Lancaster University Project on Entrepreneurship Training.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) welcomed a delegation from the United Kingdom’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Monday, December 9, 2024. The visit, led by FCDO’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Charlotte Watts, aimed to assess the progress of two FCDO-funded initiatives at the university—the Innovation to Market (I2M) project and the Lancaster University Project on Entrepreneurship Training.
The delegation commenced their activities with a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, and other members of the University Management. Prof. Ogunsola expressed her gratitude to the FCDO for its support and reiterated UNILAG's commitment to the successful implementation of the funded projects.
Professor Charlotte Watts, on behalf of the FCDO, commended UNILAG for its achievements and reaffirmed the FCDO's commitment to fostering collaborations with the university. She attributed the continued partnership to UNILAG's impressive milestones in executing FCDO-supported initiatives.
Following the courtesy visit, the delegation engaged with stakeholders involved in the two projects. During the interaction, Prof. Watts lauded the university's efforts and expressed satisfaction with the implementation of both initiatives.
The Innovation to Market (I2M) project, under the leadership of Dr. Abiodun Gbenga-Ilori of the Innovation and Technology Management Office (ITMO), focuses on fostering an ecosystem that drives research commercialization and promotes collaboration among Nigerian universities. The initiative aims to strengthen research-to-market pathways and enhance innovation outputs across the country.
The second initiative, led by Professor Uchenna Udeani, aims to improve entrepreneurship training in Nigerian universities. Implemented by Lancaster University in England, the project positions UNILAG among 14 universities spearheading the program. Its outcomes are expected to influence entrepreneurship training policies within the Nigerian university system, with potential guidance from the National Universities Commission (NUC).
This visit underscores UNILAG’s dedication to impactful collaborations that enhance research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in Nigeria’s higher education landscape.
