The Federal University Gusau (FUGUS) has entered into a landmark research collaboration agreement with Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Malaysia, to advance chemical and pharmacological investigations into medicinal natural products from Nigeria.

The three-year agreement, signed in Malaysia on Monday, January 26, 2026, aims to promote cutting-edge research, strengthen academic excellence, and deepen mutually beneficial international partnerships.

Under the collaboration, FUGUS will provide authenticated natural products sourced from Nigeria and will supervise or co-supervise key aspects of the research. UiTM will contribute expertise in comprehensive metabolite profiling and fingerprinting of samples, co-supervise MSc and PhD students, and jointly produce academic, industrial and commercial research outputs. The Malaysian institution will also provide research facilities and materials subject to available grants.

The agreement was signed on behalf of UiTM by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Ts. Dr Shahrin Bin, FASC, while Prof. Mu’azu Abubakar Gusau, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Gusau, initialled for FUGUS.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Associate Prof. ChM Dr Fatimah Salim, Director of the Atta-ur-Rahman Institute for Natural Product Discovery (AuRIns), and Associate Prof. Maryam Kemi Gafar of the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, FUGUS.

UiTM has appointed Dr Fatimah Salim as Project Leader, supported by designated project members, while FUGUS has named Associate Prof. Maryam Kemi Gafar as its Project Leader, alongside other assigned personnel.

Both institutions agreed that their respective Project Leaders will serve as principal researchers for the collaboration.

The partnership is expected to accelerate scientific discovery in natural product research and build capacity for advanced postgraduate training.

The agreement underscores the commitment of Prof. Mu’azu Abubakar Gusau’s administration to reposition the Federal University Gusau as an emerging centre of excellence in research and innovation in Nigeria.