The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, has called on faculty members of the newly established Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences to align their activities with national priorities while fostering international collaborations.
Professor Ogunsola made the call on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at the inauguration of the faculty’s first retreat, held at the Boardroom of the UNILAG Guest Houses and Conference Centre. The retreat, themed “Strengthening Our Foundation, Shaping Our Future,” brought together academic staff from the faculty’s five departments: Anatomic and Molecular Pathology; Haematology and Blood Transfusion; Medical Microbiology and Parasitology; Clinical Pathology; and Clinical Pharmacology.
In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor congratulated the staff led by the Dean, Professor Fatimah Abdulkareem, noting that the faculty was established to drive growth and advancement in Basic Clinical Sciences education for national development. She urged members to build a strong academic community, strengthen collaborative research across departments, and dismantle bureaucratic barriers to international partnerships.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics and Research, Professor Bola Oboh, charged the faculty to initiate innovations that would enhance local capacity building and deepen its role in medical training. She commended staff commitment to progress, describing it as a step toward boosting the faculty’s standing within the university.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Provost of the College of Medicine, Professor Ademola Oremosu, and the Director of Academic Planning, Professor Matthew Ilori, who both emphasized the need for new academic programmes and innovative research.
Setting the tone for the retreat, the Dean, Professor Abdulkareem, and the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Professor Titilope Adeyemo, described the event as an opportunity to strengthen faculty identity and community engagement.
The opening session featured the presentation of plaques to guest resource persons, Dr. Tunde Popoola and Pharmacist Abimbola Adebakin, who later led technical sessions on developing the faculty’s vision, mission, and objectives. Participants engaged in brainstorming sessions to design annual programmes, set timelines, and establish measurable outcomes.
The Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences is one of seven new faculties created recently, bringing UNILAG’s total number of faculties to 19.
