Research, Innovation: UNILORIN, Synlab PathCare mull strategic partnership
By Mustafa Abubakar
The University of Ilorin has taken a significant step towards strengthening research innovation and revenue generation through a strategic collaboration with Synlab PathCare following a high-level visit by the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Kenneth Okolie, to the University Central Research Laboratory (CRL).
During the visit last Thursday(July 2,2026), the Synlab PathCare CEO toured the University’s Central Research Laboratories alongside officials of the institution to assess available facilities and explore areas of collaboration between the private sector and academia.
Speaking during an interaction after the facility tour, the visiting CEO noted that the visit was aimed at understanding the level of research activities within the University and identifying opportunities for partnership that could drive innovation and commercialisation of research outputs.
According to him, universities and research institutions globally serve as the engine room for innovation, while the private sector provides the platform for scaling. He added that commercialising such innovations for societal and economic benefits.
Mr Okolie explained that although some opportunities identified may not be directly connected to routine pathology services, there were immediate prospects in areas such as management systems and freeze-drying technology, which could serve as viable revenue-generating ventures.
The Synlab PathCare boss added that while advanced molecular diagnostics such as PCR testing remain important, challenges surrounding affordability and sustainability continue to affect demand, especially as government support for such services continues to decline.
He further observed that the future of diagnostics is gradually shifting toward advanced technologies such as Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), precision diagnostics, oncology-related testing, and genetic mapping, stressing the need for forward-looking investments in such areas.
While expressing optimism about future collaboration, he stated that the University possesses significant capabilities that can be better maximised through proper partnership arrangements.
He said his company is interested in working with the University management to transform the identified opportunities into reality.
The visiting CEO also commended the quality and magnitude of infrastructures available at the University and warm reception by members of staff, describing the visit as productive and encouraging.
Earlier, the Director of the CRL, Prof. Ibrahim Katibi, described the visit as a major achievement for the University.
According to him, Synlab PathCare remains a leading laboratory diagnostics organisation within the West African sub-region, making the visit of its Chief Executive Officer to the University highly significant.
Prof. Katibi disclosed that the delegation toured about 11 to 12 laboratories within the Central Research Laboratory complex, adding that the visitors were impressed by the sophisticated equipment and facilities available in the institution, some of which he said are rarely found in many centres across Nigeria.
He said both parties had agreed to continue discussions on ways of combining the efficiency of the private sector with the manpower and research infrastructure of the University to improve laboratory operations and create additional revenue streams for the institution.
He added that such collaboration would also contribute significantly to improving the research output and webometric ranking of the University through groundbreaking scientific research.
Prof. Katibi expressed confidence that the initiative represents another strategic move by University in its quest to reclaim its position as one of Nigeria’s leading research institutions.
