UNILAG VC Announces MedAfrica GMP Facility to Boost Pharmaceutical Collaboration and Impact
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, announced the commissioning of a new Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Laboratory funded by the MEDAFRICA Foundation.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, announced that the newly commissioned Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Laboratory, funded by MEDAFRICA Foundation, will significantly impact the pharmaceutical industry and facilitate UNILAG's collaboration with key industry players. The GMP facility, located at the Faculty of Pharmacy, is the first of its kind within a university in Nigeria and West Africa and the third on the African continent.
Prof. Ogunsola made these remarks on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, during the commissioning of the GMP laboratory. She emphasized the lab's potential to revolutionize novel drug development and streamline the route to market for pharmaceuticals aimed at the Nigerian population. The facility, valued at over $450,000, was made possible through the efforts of MEDAFRICA Foundation's Founder, Mr. Martin L. Jeiven, and the Acting Head of the Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology at UNILAG, Dr. Margaret Ilomuanya.
"The impact of this lab is enormous as it will facilitate a direct route for novel drug development in the industry en route the Nigerian populace," Prof. Ogunsola stated. She expressed her gratitude for the collaboration that brought the project to fruition, highlighting the roles of both Mr. Jeiven and Dr. Ilomuanya.
SEE MORE: UNILAG DLI Releases Admission Forms for 2024/2025 Academic Session
The VC noted that the GMP lab will support research in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products, marking a new era of collaboration between academia and the pharmaceutical industry. She emphasized that the lab would serve educational researchers, drug companies, and regulatory agencies, facilitating clinical investigations and product development.
"Clinical trial drug candidates can be produced in this state-of-the-art facility for clinical trials in Africa. The University of Lagos can therefore become a hub for educational research, manufacturing industry, and regulatory agencies. The facility was built to develop novel freeze-dried vaginal inserts for HIV/STI prevention – and when achieved, it will be the first time this will be happening on the continent," Prof. Ogunsola added.
The commissioning event saw the attendance of senior academics from UNILAG, top executives of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), and other industry stakeholders. Prof. Ogunsola extended special thanks to Dr. Margaret Ilomuanya for her pivotal role in establishing the GMP facility at UNILAG in partnership with Marty Jeiven.
READ ALSO: UNILAG Leads Triumph at 2024 Ecobank National Schools' Chess Championship
This milestone positions UNILAG as a key player in pharmaceutical research and innovation in Africa, setting a new standard for academic-industry collaboration in the region.
