How UNILORIN secured N100m scientific consignment
By Mustafa Abubakar
A Professor of Virology at the Department of Microbiology, University of Ilorin, Olatunji Matthew Kolawole, has disclosed that the scientific consignment valued at approximately N100 million for the xSTAR project Nigeria, recently received by the University, was secured through a highly competitive, merit-based international research support funded by Wellcome Trust and Imperial College London, which rigorously assessed collaborating institutions on readiness, leadership, and the ability to translate advanced scientific infrastructure into measurable public health impact.
Prof. Kolawole disclosed this while speaking with UNILORIN Bulletin last Wednesday (February 4, 2026) on the sidelines of the delivery of the consignment.
He added that the selection process prioritised institutional preparedness, proven research leadership, and the presence of systems capable of supporting and sustaining sophisticated laboratory equipment.
Prof. Kolawole, who is a Fellow of the African Academy of Science and a visiting Professor at the University of Warwick, United Kingdom, said:”The University of Ilorin distinguished itself through its academic stability, functional research ecosystem, and well-established researchers at the Infectious Disease and Environmental Health Research Group, with demonstrated capacity to manage complex laboratory operations to global standards.”
Prof. Kolawole added that the University demonstrated clear governance, accountability, and compliance frameworks required for managing high-value scientific assets.
He added that these assurances were critical to showing that the consignment would be deployed efficiently, responsibly, and in ways that deliver long-term value rather than short-term visibility.
He said that the support reflects strong international confidence in the ability of the University of Ilorin to contribute meaningfully to infectious disease detection, preparedness, and response.
Prof. Kolawole expressed the belief that the equipment will directly strengthen research, training, and surveillance capacity—supporting national health priorities while positioning the University as a regional hub for high-impact public health research.
“This milestone underscores the growing reputation of the University of Ilorin as a trusted partner in global health research—an institution capable not only of receiving world-class scientific resources but of maximising them in the service of Nigeria and the wider African region,” he added.
