UNILAG Showcases 2,000 Annual Publications, 120 Funded Projects at Horizon Europe Training
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has reaffirmed its ambition for greater global research impact following its hosting of a high-level training workshop under the Horizon Europe Africa Initiative IV and Global Health EDCTP3 framework.
Speaking at the opening session, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), Professor Foluso Afolabi Lesi, said the university has maintained a strong research profile, producing over 2,000 peer-reviewed publications annually over the past five years. Within the same period, he disclosed, UNILAG secured more than 120 nationally and internationally funded research projects spanning health, climate change, digital transformation, pharmaceutics, and inclusive education.
Professor Lesi represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, at the hands-on workshop held on February 25, 2026, at the Arthur Mbanefo Digital Research Centre.
Highlighting recent milestones, he noted that in 2024 alone, the university facilitated over 30 successful student mobility and staff exchange programmes, reinforcing its standing as a leading research-intensive institution in West Africa.
Acknowledging the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other funding bodies, Lesi said UNILAG has strengthened its clinical research capacity and made significant contributions in infectious diseases, maternal and antenatal care, and public health resilience.
He described the workshop as a strategic platform for knowledge exchange, trust-building, and sustainable partnership development, reiterating the university’s commitment to the Horizon Europe programme. According to him, the initiative aligns with UNILAG’s vision to become a hub of research excellence that addresses Africa’s challenges while contributing to global scientific progress.
The opening session featured goodwill messages from Mrs Nienke Buisman, Head of Unit, International Cooperation; Mr Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation, Abuja; and Dr Vincenzo Lorusso, Policy Officer, EU–Nigeria Cooperation on Science, Technology and Innovation at the European Commission.
The speakers commended UNILAG’s achievements in research, innovation, and internationalisation, describing the institution as a credible partner for multidisciplinary and cross-border collaborations across Africa.
Participants later engaged in intensive training sessions where facilitators provided detailed breakdowns of funding clusters under the Horizon Europe Africa Initiative IV framework.
In his closing remarks, the Director of the Research Management Office, Professor Solomon Okunuga, described the workshop as an eye-opening, train-the-trainer initiative aimed at strengthening capacity in research proposal development and enhancing competitiveness in securing international grants.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.