Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, inaugurated the Sir Kensington Adebutu Medical Research Centre at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, to boost medical innovation and improve health outcomes in Nigeria and beyond.
Speaking at the inauguration, Sanwo-Olu described the project as “an intellectual investment” and a true act of philanthropy aimed at advancing human capital development.
The governor said the new centre would serve as a global hub for medical and related research, strengthening the university’s role in solving pressing health challenges.
Commending the donor, Sir Kensington Adebutu, for his generosity, Sanwo-Olu urged other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate such gestures and invest in projects that would outlive them.
“As the name connotes, this is a science research centre within the Faculty of Medicine. Research is one area we have not invested enough in,” Sanwo-Olu said.
“The centre will enable scholars to conduct groundbreaking studies not just for today, but for tomorrow and beyond. It will enhance human capacity and competence, including in artificial intelligence, positioning Nigeria for global impact in medicine.
“This is a call to all who are blessed with wealth to see philanthropy as a means of giving back to society. The government alone cannot do it all.”
Also speaking, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, said the project aligned with the Federal Government’s plan to strengthen innovation across the education sector and place Nigeria on the global research map.
Alausa described the facility as a multi-dimensional centre for translational and clinical research that would improve health outcomes nationwide.
He also revealed that plans were underway for the establishment of a National Research Trust Fund to provide sustainable funding for research.
“The President has given verbal approval for the establishment of the National Research Trust Fund,” Alausa said. “It will make billions of naira available for researchers to competitively apply for grants that can move their work from the bench to the market.
“We need to innovate, improve our health, and ensure humanity stays healthy. As you improve the health of a nation, you improve the quality of its human capital.”
In his remarks, the Provost of CMUL, Prof. Ademola Oremosu, said the project originated from a 2019 High Table Dinner of the MESILAG Alumni, where Adebutu pledged his support for the research facility.
He noted that the inauguration coincided with Adebutu’s 90th birthday, adding that the centre symbolised a renewed commitment to scientific excellence.
“This research centre is a promise to our students, researchers, and faculty that their ideas will be nurtured, their inquiries supported, and their discoveries empowered,” Oremosu said. “It is a space where science meets service, where data meets dignity, and where knowledge becomes healing.”
In his brief remarks, the 90-year-old philanthropist, Adebutu, attributed his achievements to divine grace and reaffirmed his dedication to humanitarian service.
“I wish that this facility becomes a source of innovation and human capital development, contributing meaningfully to the health and well-being of our communities,” he said.
