The University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, launched a new initiative to strengthen research capacity in bioinformatics and computational biology with a two-day workshop designed to equip life scientists with the knowledge and skills required to harness computational tools in addressing contemporary research and national development challenges.
The workshop, themed: Bioinformatics for Life Scientists: Basic Principles, Tools and Applications, is holding . It brought together participants from disciplines whose research involves the application of bioinformatics techniques.
Declaring the workshop open at the Professor Bola Oboh Learning Hub, Faculty of Life Sciences, UNILAG; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research), Professor Matthew Ilori, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, commended the immediate past DVC (Academics and Research), Professor Bola Oboh, for the vision and efforts that led to the establishment of the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Learning Hub.
Professor Ilori noted that advances in technology have fundamentally transformed research, teaching and learning, making it imperative for researchers and academics to continuously acquire new competencies and adapt to emerging tools and methodologies.
He emphasised the role of academics in national development, stressing that researchers must increasingly focus on generating knowledge and solutions capable of addressing specific societal challenges.
Professor Ilori also recalled UNILAG’s recent feat as Nigeria’s highest-ranked university in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, describing it as a significant milestone, particularly against the backdrop of human-resource challenges occasioned by brain drain during the period covered by the ranking.
He attributed the University’s sustained performance to improvements in research, academic citations and industry engagement, and challenged participants to build on these gains by developing the capacity to conduct research that responds to national needs.
According to him, strengthening competence in emerging fields such as bioinformatics would enable researchers to expand the frontiers of knowledge, contribute to solving specific national challenges and enhance their professional impact.
In her remarks, the immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research), Professor Bola Oboh, said the workshop was conceived to expose participants to the possibilities and opportunities emerging from bioinformatics and computational biology.
She explained that the broader vision is to encourage researchers to question existing knowledge, explore new areas of inquiry and break new ground in the biological sciences.
In his opening remarks, the Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences, Professor Ganiyu Oyetibo, described the workshop as a milestone in the Faculty’s efforts to strengthen research capacity and deepen expertise in bioinformatics and computational biology.
Professor Oyetibo expressed appreciation to Professor Oboh for establishing the Learning Hub, noting that the facility provides an important platform for advancing training and research in the emerging field.
He disclosed that efforts are underway to optimise the facility and position it for expansion into a full-fledged Professor Bola Oboh Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Institute.
According to him, ongoing initiatives include curriculum development and the pursuit of international collaborations, all aimed at strengthening the Faculty’s capacity and expanding opportunities for research partnerships.
The workshop is expected to provide participants with foundational knowledge and practical exposure to bioinformatics tools and applications, while contributing to UNILAG’s broader objective of developing research capacity capable of translating knowledge into tangible solutions to societal challenges.
Report: Gbenga Gbelee
Photograph: Islamiat Akanni
