Abuad Researchers Acquire N480m Worth Of Advanced Research Equipment
Professor Oluwafemi Ogunmodede, a Professor of Industrial Chemistry and Director of Academic Planning at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has successfully secured 79 high-end research and scientific equipment valued at $298,104.71 (₦480.2 million) through a partnership with Seeding Labs.
This was announced in a statement released on Wednesday by the university’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Tunde Olofintila, who confirmed that the equipment has been delivered and will further strengthen the institution’s growing research capabilities. The new acquisition adds to previous grants obtained by other distinguished researchers at ABUAD.
“With this latest achievement by Prof. Ogunmodede, the volume of cutting-edge research and science tools at ABUAD has reached unprecedented levels,” Olofintila said.
He highlighted previous grants such as the one secured by Professor Pius Okiki, Provost of the College of Sciences and Professor of Microbiology, who obtained equipment worth $221,041.98 (₦356 million) in 2023. Similarly, Professor Olusegun Adebayo AdeOluwa from the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics had submitted a successful application to Seeding Labs in January 2023. Following approval, the university contributed a counterpart fund of $27,800 and received 53 pieces of advanced scientific equipment valued at ₦427.4 million on July 30, 2024.
Additionally, Dr. Juliet Olayinka from the Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, won an Observer 5 Microscope equipped with Fluorescence and Camera from the Africa Microscopy Initiative in November 2024. The microscope, valued at $80,000 (₦136 million), was delivered in April 2025.
ABUAD’s Founder, Aare Afe Babalola, commended the researchers for their dedication to enhancing the university’s research profile, noting that their efforts align with the World Bank’s triad goals for universities: quality teaching, impactful research, and meaningful community engagement.
“These equipment acquisitions will significantly bolster our research output, especially in Medicine, Pharmacy, and the Sciences, where we’ve already developed products such as Virucidine (an immune-boosting syrup), Natucadine (an anti-ageing herbal supplement), and AB-Mal (an anti-malaria capsule),” Babalola stated.
He also emphasized the economic importance of the equipment, noting it will reduce the need for foreign laboratory services and conserve foreign exchange.
“Our consistent excellence has earned global recognition,” Babalola added, referencing the university’s recent global accolades in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings: No. 1 worldwide for SDG 7, No. 1 globally in Outreach with a 98% score, No. 1 in Stewardship with a 98.2% score, and the top-ranked university in Nigeria across all categories for three consecutive years — 2022, 2023, and 2024.
During a tour of the equipment at the Bogoro Drug Research Centre, Prof. Okiki, alongside Prof. Ogunmodede, expressed appreciation to the ABUAD founder for his relentless pursuit of quality education and leadership development since the university commenced academic activities on January 4, 2010.
He affirmed that the new equipment would greatly enhance practical training and research for students and faculty in fields such as Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical Laboratory Science, Nursing, Engineering, and Natural Sciences. He also noted its significant contribution to the operations of the 124-unit ABUAD Industrial Research Park and the 400-bed ABUAD Multi-System Hospital.
According to him, the acquisition will eliminate the need for overseas sample analysis, making ABUAD a self-reliant hub for medical and scientific research.