The Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, has officially unveiled the Faculty of Pharmacy Computational Research Unit (FAPCRU), marking a significant milestone in its commitment to advancing research, innovation, and technology-driven pharmaceutical education.
The new facility, located on the second floor of the Faculty of Pharmacy Building, was inaugurated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Research), Professor Matthew Ilori. The Unit is designed to provide staff and students with access to cutting-edge computational tools that support interdisciplinary research, pharmaceutical education, and scientific discovery.
The unveiling ceremony, held on Monday, June 29, 2026, brought together members of the University community, academic staff, industry partners, and students to celebrate the landmark achievement. The event preceded the closing ceremony of the Maiden Computational Bootcamp, organised by FAPCRU in partnership with the Research Arm of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students (PANS).
A major highlight of the event was the presentation of certificates to participants who successfully completed the bootcamp, in recognition of their commitment to developing competencies in computational research.
In his remarks, Professor Ilori congratulated the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Professor Sunday Adesegun, and the FAPCRU team, led by Dr Stephenie Alaribe, for the successful establishment of the Unit. He also commended the initiative as a forward-looking investment in pharmaceutical research and innovation. Addressing the bootcamp participants, he encouraged them to apply the knowledge and skills acquired to their academic pursuits and future professional practice, while embracing the vision of the Computational Research Unit as a catalyst for innovation and impactful research.
The intensive bootcamp, held on May 30, June 6, and June 13, 2026, equipped pharmacy students with practical computational skills relevant to contemporary pharmaceutical research. Participants received hands-on training through specialised and interactive sessions covering Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD) workflows and visualisation tools, target curation, structural preparation, molecular docking, data analysis, pharmacokinetics, and ADMET profiling, with emphasis on their applications in drug discovery and modern pharmaceutical research.
The successful inauguration of FAPCRU and the conclusion of the maiden FAPCRU–PANS Computational Bootcamp underscore the Faculty of Pharmacy’s commitment to building a robust platform for research collaboration, innovation, and capacity development. The initiative positions the Faculty to contribute meaningfully to the development of smarter, faster, and more effective pharmaceutical solutions while equipping the next generation of pharmacists with the advanced computational skills required to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven healthcare landscape.
