UNILORIN research team tackles lead poisoning
By Abubakar Imam
In a major step towards safeguarding public health and aligning with the newly approved National Policy on Cosmetic Safety, the University of Ilorin’s Sustainable Environmental Pollution Control Group (USEPCG) has successfully taken its groundbreaking research from the laboratory to the policy table through a groundbreaking research targeted at eliminating lead poisoning.
This development was disclosed last Monday (November 2, 2026) by a Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering, George Adewale Adeniyi, in a chat with UNILORIN Bulletin in his office.
Prof. Adeniyi explained that a research group consisting of himself, a colleague of his at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Dr Mary Ajala; a software expert at the Department of Computer Science, Dr Joseph B. Awotunde; a lecturer at the Department of Physics, who specialises in Medical Material, Dr Samson I. Akinsola and two students from the Department of Industrial Engineering and Statistics, respectively, Mr Kingsley O. Iwuozor and Mr Alabi, Muideen Ojo with the support of Mr Najib Sanusi Gaya, Mr Abdulrahman O. Mafe and Mr Oriade Yusuf Olamilekan conducted the research in Kano State.
The don said that the research group, operating under a national collaborative project, titled “Tackling Lead Poisoning in Nigeria: A Multi-State Assessment of Lead (Pb) in Cosmetics & Ceremonial Powders”, concluded a highly impactful two-day advocacy meeting with the Kano State Government.
He added that the project, which was conducted in collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Cosmetic Safety Unit of the NAFDAC, and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Work (FMoHSW), with funding from Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), established a baseline for lead poisoning across eight commonly used cosmetic types in Nigeria.
Prof. Adeniyi said that the research findings, which show that out of 411 samples screened across 44 Local Government Areas of Kano State, over one-third (38%) failed safety standards, registering lead (Pb) levels above 10 ppm, were presented to the Kano State Government.
He noted that unregistered local Tiro/Kohl and ceremonial powders were identified as the highest-risk products, putting women and children at significant risk of long-term neurological and developmental damage.
The findings, according to Prof. Adeniyi, led to the convocation of an advocacy meeting, which was held from October 26 to 27, 2026 and the State Commissioner for Health,Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf and the Director of Public Health and Disease Control, Kano State Ministry of Health, Dr Ibrahim Ali Umar Gano
Prof. Adeniyi, who is a former Researcher of the Year, University of Ilorin, added that the meeting turned out to be a resounding success as it brought together policymakers, market women associations, religious leaders, and health officials.
In a direct response to the evidence presented by the UNILORIN team, Prof. Adeniyi said that the Kano State Government immediately constituted a Technical Committee to oversee the implementation of the research recommendations, which include bilingual public health advisories, market surveillance, and the establishment of rapid XRF screening points at major markets like Kurmi and Sabon Gari.
According to Prof. Adeniyi, this milestone in Kano State marks the beginning of a nationwide advocacy rollout.
Reacting to the development, the Director of Corporate Affairs, University of Ilorin, Mr Kunle Akogun, on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, congratulated Prof. Adeniyi and his team for a job well done.
Mr Akogun said that the University would continue to celebrate Prof. Adeniyi and his team for exemplifying the commitment of the University to impactful, solution-driven research that directly influences national policy and protects the lives of Nigerians.
