The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, has urged faculty members of the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences to align their engagements with national priorities and collaborate widely with a view to fostering international reckoning and deepening the university?s impact among the comity of ivory towers.

She stated this on Saturday, August 23, 2025, while flagging off the inaugural retreat of the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, UNILAG which was held at the Boardroom of UNILAG Guest Houses and Conference Centre.

The retreat had the theme: Strengthening Our Foundation, Shaping Our Future, and had in attendance academic staff from the five (5) departments under the new faculty: Anatomic and Molecular Pathology; Haematology and Blood Transfusion; Medical Microbiology and Parasitology; Clinical Pathology; and Clinical Pharmacology.

While congratulating staff of the faculty led by the Dean, Professor Fatimah Abdulkareem, Professor Ogunsola pointed out that the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences was created with a vision of growth and accelerated progression in the field and studies of Basic Clinical Sciences education for national development.

The Vice-Chancellor implored faculty members to dedicate time to building a strong community which would foster intellectual engagements and institute a strong collaborative research system across all departments and beyond.

The Professor of Medical Microbiology added that the faculty members should beam their search lights on ways to address every bureaucracy inhibiting external and international collaborations.

In her remarks at the Opening Session of the Retreat, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics and Research, Professor Bola-Oboh spoke on expectations from the new Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences. She charged the rank and file of the faculty to initiate ideals which will drive local innovation and deepen the role of the faculty in the training of manpower for the medical field.

Prof Oboh applauded the faculty members for their commitment to steady progress, which will go a long way in boosting the fortunes of the faculty.

There were goodwill remarks from the Provost, College of Medicine, Professor Ademola Oremosu and Director, Academic Planning, Professor Matthew Ilori. The duo charged the new faculty to come up with new academic programmes, innovations and research engagements which will strengthen the faculty?s identity and deepen its relevance.

The Dean, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Professor Fatimah Abdulkareem and the Chairman, Retreat Planning Committee, Professor Titilope Adeyemo set the tone for the event in their speeches. They described the retreat as a platform to foster a sense of community to drive all engagements, and secure the commitment of every faculty member.

The highlight of the opening session included the presentation of plaques to the resource persons invited to provide specialized knowledge and real world experience at the retreat: Dr. Tunde Popoola and Pharmacist Abimbola Adebakin by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS.

Activities during the technical session for the retreat centered around developing the Vision, Mission and Objectives for the faculty as well as setting SMART goals and indicators.

The resource persons, Dr. Tunde Popoola and Pharmacist Abimbola Adebakin took turns to address participants on ways to transition from vision to impact by positioning the new faculty for all-round excellence.

There were brainstorming sessions during which participants were grouped into committees and teams to debate on annual programmes and activities, set timelines as well as outcomes in line with the faculty?s vision, mission and objectives.The Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences is one of the seven (7) new faculties recently created which brings the number of Faculties in UNILAG to nineteen (19).

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