Stakeholders at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) 19th Annual Research Conference and Fair have called for stronger collaboration between universities, industries and policymakers to turn academic research into practical solutions for Nigeria’s development challenges.
The call was made on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, during an Industry-Academia Discussion held as part of the first day of the university’s 19th Annual Research Conference and Fair.
The conference, organised around the theme, “Sustainable Frontiers: Integrating Systems for Food Security, Health, Housing and Humanity for Combating Global Challenges,” focused on strengthening research, innovation and partnerships to address pressing societal needs.
Moderated by the Executive Director of UNILAG Business School, Professor Sunday Adebisi, the discussion brought together academics and industry representatives to examine how university research could support innovation, improve local production and contribute to national development.
Panel members included the Director of Quality Assurance and Servicom at UNILAG, Professor Femi Saibu; Dr Bunmi Kole-Dauda, representing the Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN); and Professor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, Chairman of the NACCIMA Committee on Education.
Other participants were Mr Tosin Adebisi of the London School of Economics; Professor Ashiat Akodu, representing UNILAG’s Innovation and Technology Management Office; and Engr Ife Oyedele, President of the UNILAG Alumni Association Worldwide.
UNILAG Conference Highlights Research-to-Innovation Gap
A major concern raised during the discussion was the disconnect between academic research and its practical application, with participants noting that many studies conducted in Nigerian universities remain academic publications rather than solutions that businesses and communities can adopt.
In a presentation titled “Bridging Industry and Academia: From Research to Innovation,” Professor Na’Allah, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, urged researchers to look beyond publishing academic papers and prioritise research that delivers measurable impact.
He explained that although businesses face challenges that academic research could help address, collaboration between the two sectors is often limited by inadequate incentives, time constraints, poor visibility, insufficient readiness and a lack of trust.
The stakeholders emphasised the need for stronger partnerships among universities, businesses and policymakers to encourage home-grown innovations, strengthen local production and ensure research contributes directly to Nigeria’s economic and social development.
Research Conference Features Six Thematic Sessions
Following the industry-academia discussion, participants continued in parallel sessions covering six sub-themes: leadership and policy strategies for the Sustainable Development Goals; public health, drug discovery, therapeutics and global preparedness; social policy and human security in emerging economies; smart cities and environmental resilience; biotechnology and genomics innovations for food security and health; and transformative education and capacity building for future sustainability.
At the biotechnology session, Dr O. T. Talabi of UNILAG’s Department of Biochemistry presented a study titled “Analytical Feasibility of HPLC-UV Quantification in Obese Nigerians: A Pilot Study (n=5 of 50).”
The presentation, delivered under the chairmanship of Professor Osuntoki, examined the feasibility of using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) to identify and measure chemical compounds in research involving Nigerians living with obesity.
The pilot study involved five participants from a larger target of 50 and provided an initial assessment of the laboratory method’s suitability for further investigation.
The presentation highlighted the importance of reliable laboratory techniques in obesity research, particularly in studying biochemical markers that could improve understanding of the condition and its associated health risks.
The discussions reinforced the conference’s central message that university research should extend beyond academic publications to inform policy decisions, support industry innovation and deliver practical benefits to society.
The UNILAG 19th Annual Research Conference and Fair forms part of the university’s efforts to promote research, knowledge exchange and collaboration in addressing development challenges.
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