MEDAFRICA GMP Laboratory
Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos
1. About the MEDAFRICA GMP Laboratory
The MEDAFRICA GMP Laboratory embodies a transformative vision: to redefine the role of African universities from purely theoretical institutions into industry-facing, innovation-driven centres capable of producing high-quality pharmaceuticals, advancing translational research, and preparing future generations of pharmaceutical professionals to meet global standards.
2. Facilities and Equipment
The MEDAFRICA GMP Laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and analytical instrumentation designed to meet the stringent requirements of current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP). The facility provides an environment conducive to both rigorous pharmaceutical research and compliant pilot-scale manufacturing.
2.1 Clean Room Infrastructure
At the heart of the laboratory are three (3) cGMP-compliant clean rooms, each designed and constructed to international pharmaceutical standards for contamination control. These clean rooms are purpose-built to accommodate both sterile and non-sterile pharmaceutical product development and manufacturing, providing the controlled environment necessary for the preparation of clinical trial drug candidates and high-quality formulations destined for regulatory assessment.
2.2 Environmental Control Systems
The facility is equipped with a dedicated Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning – Air Handling Unit (HVAC AHU) system. This critical infrastructure maintains precise control over temperature, humidity, differential air pressure, and particulate levels within the clean rooms, ensuring continuous compliance with international pharmaceutical manufacturing environmental requirements. The HVAC system underpins the laboratory’s capacity to consistently meet cGMP environmental specifications.
2.3 Analytical and Processing Equipment
The laboratory is outfitted with advanced analytical and processing instruments that collectively support comprehensive pharmaceutical research, formulation development, and quality assurance workflows:
- Lyophilizer (Freeze Dryer): Enables the production of stable, long-shelf-life pharmaceutical products through controlled sublimation of water under vacuum conditions. This equipment is particularly critical for the processing of biologics and other thermolabile drug compounds.
- Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM): Provides high-resolution imaging and surface morphology analysis of pharmaceutical particles and formulation components, supporting quality control assessments of particle size, shape, and structural integrity at the nanoscale and microscale.
- UV-Vis Spectrophotometer: Facilitates quantitative analysis of drug concentrations, purity testing, and quality assurance applications through ultraviolet-visible spectroscopic measurements, which are fundamental to both product development and regulatory compliance documentation.
- Viscometer: Enables precise measurement of the rheological properties of pharmaceutical formulations. This instrument is indispensable for the development and quality control of semi-solid and liquid dosage forms, including gels, creams, suspensions, and topical preparations.
Together, these instruments position the MEDAFRICA GMP Laboratory as a fully equipped platform for end-to-end pharmaceutical research and development, from early-stage formulation to advanced characterisation and quality testing.
2.4 Manufacturing Capabilities
The facility’s manufacturing infrastructure is specifically configured for the development and pilot-scale production of topical and oral drug delivery systems. Topical formulations encompass creams, ointments, gels, and transdermal preparations, while oral dosage forms include tablets, capsules, oral suspensions, solutions, and modified-release systems. This dual manufacturing capability enables the laboratory to address a wide spectrum of therapeutic needs and research objectives.
3. Quality Management and Regulatory Compliance
A defining hallmark of the MEDAFRICA GMP Laboratory is its unwavering commitment to quality assurance and regulatory compliance. The facility operates under a robust Quality Management System (QMS) aligned with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) specifications and international pharmaceutical quality standards, including guidelines promulgated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and leading regulatory authorities.
4. Team and Leadership
MEDAFRICA GMP Laboratory is led by an accomplished team of academic, technical, and scientific professionals whose combined expertise spans pharmaceutical technology, quality assurance, microbiology, and industrial pharmacy.
The Principal Investigator, Prof. Ilomuanya’s vision for the laboratory clearly articulated as building “a cornerstone for innovation in sub-Saharan Africa” — continues to drive the facility’s scientific agenda and collaborative outreach.
Engr. Loveth Ehinome Akhigbe — QA/QC Manager
Engr. Loveth Ehinome Akhigbe serves as the Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) Manager of the MEDAFRICA GMP Laboratory. In this capacity, she is responsible for the implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the laboratory’s Quality Management System. Engr. Akhigbe oversees all quality systems and regulatory compliance activities within the facility, ensuring that manufacturing and research operations adhere consistently to cGMP specifications and applicable international standards. Her expertise is central to the laboratory’s capacity to produce clinical trial-grade pharmaceutical products.
Dr. Chijioke Ezeobiora — Microbiology Consultant
Dr. Chijioke Ezeobiora contributes specialist expertise in pharmaceutical microbiology as the laboratory’s Microbiology Consultant. His role encompasses microbiological testing, contamination control strategy, and the provision of expert guidance on all microbiological aspects of pharmaceutical manufacturing and quality assurance. Dr. Ezeobiora’s consultancy supports the laboratory’s clean room operations and ensures that microbiological standards integral to sterile and non-sterile product development are rigorously maintained.
Contact Information
For enquiries regarding research collaboration, facility access, analytical services, manufacturing partnerships, or educational programmes, please contact the MEDAFRICA GMP Laboratory through the following official channels:
Institution: MEDAFRICA GMP Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
Email: pharmaceutics_jeivengmp@unilag.edu.ng
Phone: +234 803 965 0397