Two distinguished lecturers from the Faculty of Pharmacy have been awarded N900 million grants by the Grand Challenges Africa (GC Africa) initiative.

The lecturers at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) are: Dr. Margaret Ilomuanya and Dr. Mutiat Bolanle Ibrahim.

They received grants totaling over US$600,000 for their pioneering research projects aimed at addressing critical challenges in health and agriculture across the African continent.

Dr. Ilomuanya, affiliated with the Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, secured a grant of US$359,100 for her project titled “The Cervical Mucus Barrier as a Target for Artificial Neural Network Inspired Novel Blends of Electrospun Scaffolds.”

This innovative research endeavors to develop a novel contraceptive device capable of preventing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections by replicating the natural cervical mucus barrier.

On the other hand, Dr. Ibrahim, associated with the Department of Pharmacognosy, received a grant of US$259,801.30 for her research titled “Characterisation of Herbal Bioactive for the Development of Spermicides for Female Contraception.”

Her project focuses on identifying and characterizing herbal compounds that can serve as spermicides, offering a safe, effective, and affordable alternative to conventional contraceptives.

Both researchers were among the 11 African scholars announced on Monday, February 12, 2024, as recipients of key grants under the GC Africa initiative.

This flagship program, spearheaded by the Science for Africa Foundation with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to catalyze transformative research addressing pressing challenges in health and agriculture on the African continent.