University of Lagos Staff Elected to Key Roles in African Research Security Consortium
UNILAG Members Elected Into Key Roles In the ARSC
Faith Orji 
In a historic moment at the Sandton Sun Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa, two prominent members of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have been elected into leadership roles in the African Research Security Consortium (ARSC). Professor Miriam N. Igwo-Ezikpe, hailing from the Department of Biochemistry in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, UNILAG, has been elected as the pioneer Chairman of the ARSC Leadership Committee, while Mr. Morufu Akande Gbadamosi, representing the Research Management Office (RMO) at UNILAG, secured a position as a member of the committee.
This groundbreaking election was conducted in person at an ARSC Workshop and witnessed by Sandia National Laboratories, acting on behalf of the United States Department of State. The ARSC Consortium, which includes pioneering members from three Nigerian universities, cast their votes to elect their founding leaders as follows:
- Chairman: Professor Miriam N. Igwo-Ezikpe, University of Lagos (UNILAG)
- Vice Chairman: Professor Damian Odimegwu, University of Nigeria (UNN)
- Secretary: Dr. Babatunde Ayinla, University of Ibadan (UI)
- Member: Professor Chidozie C. Nnaji, University of Nigeria (UNN)
- Member: Mr. Morufu Akande Gbadamosi, University of Lagos (UNILAG)
- Member: Mr. Innocent Inegbe, University of Ibadan (UI)
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The African Research Security Consortium (ARSC) is an initiative born out of collaboration between Sandia National Laboratories' Academic Research Security Program and the U.S. Department of State. Over the course of ten remote webinar series, partners from leading research institutions across Africa engaged in discussions aimed at promoting research security in higher education, protecting intellectual property, and preventing illicit technology transfer.
Following these webinars, selected participants were invited to an in-person event to formally establish the ARSC research consortium, with the ultimate goal of creating best practices for the protection of knowledge, data, and technology.
The election was conducted with five members representing the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, seven members representing the University of Lagos, Lagos State, and five members representing the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State. Unanimous agreement was reached among all present regarding the election outcome.
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The newly elected Leadership Committee of the African Research Security Consortium (ARSC) is set to guide the organization for the next two years, with their term commencing on August 30, 2023, and concluding on August 29, 2025. The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, OON, FAS, on behalf of the university community, extends her heartfelt congratulations to Professor Miriam N. Igwo-Ezikpe and Mr. Morufu Akande Gbadamosi, wishing them great success in their new roles.
