What does it take to move pharmaceutical innovation from a university lab into the hands of the people who actually need it? And what happens when scientists stop waiting for “perfect conditions” and start building anyway?

In this part II episode of Monday Science, Dr. Bahijja Raimi-Abraham sits down with Prof Margaret Ilomuanya to explore the realities of pharmaceutical innovation, research leadership, and in-country manufacturing in Nigeria.

From compounding creams in buckets inside a small office to leading MedAfrica GMP Laboratories, the first GMP facility domiciled within a university in West Africa this conversation is ultimately about vision, persistence, and the power of starting small.

But this episode also goes deeper than infrastructure or funding. It explores the mindset behind scientific progress. The role of collaboration. The importance of communicating African science more visibly. And the tension between barriers that exist on paper and the opportunities that emerge when researchers focus on solutions instead of limitations.

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What does it really take to move from understanding a problem… to building something that actually solves it?

In this episode of the Monday Science Nigeria Special Series, Dr Bahijja Raimi-Abraham explors that question through the journey of Professor. Margaret Ilomuanya — pharmacist, academic, product developer, and one of the driving forces behind one of West Africa’s most significant pharmaceutical innovation milestones. From hospital pharmacy to academia, and into global research collaborations, her work sits at the intersection of science, systems, and real-world needs.

This conversation goes beyond career progression. It examines how lived clinical experience can shape research direction, why innovation often fails to reach the people it’s meant to serve, and what it looks like to build scientific infrastructure within the very environments where problems exist. At the centre of it is a clear thread: science is not just about discovery. It is about application, relevance, and impact!

Dr Bahijja's questions for you...

• What does innovation look like in your context, and who is it really designed for?
• Have you seen examples where research stays on paper instead of reaching people?
• And what would need to change, in your field or system, for science to move more consistently from idea… to impact?

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Find out more www.mondaysciencepodcast.com

Get in touch mondaysciencepodcast@scientificallyspeakingglobal.com

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Monday Science returns with a new season, a new format, and a deeper focus on how science moves across systems. In this episode, Dr Bahijja Raimi-Abraham reflects on the journey so far and introduces a season shaped by her secondment in Nigeria, exploring medicines quality, antimicrobial resistance, and the hidden ways pharmaceuticals impact both people and the planet.

About this Episode

This relaunch episode marks the return of Monday Science with a renewed focus, a refined structure, and a deeper sense of purpose. Six years after its launch during the COVID-19 pandemic, the podcast evolves from a spontaneous response to global uncertainty into a more intentional platform for science, storytelling, and systems-level thinking.

In this episode, Dr Bahijja Raimi-Abraham reflects on the origins of the podcast, from creating a trusted space for evidence-based conversations to navigating her own journey as a pharmaceutical scientist and academic. She introduces the shift to a seasonal format and situates Monday Science within the broader mission of Scientifically Speaking, focusing on workforce development and translating science to society.

The episode also sets the direction for the new season, centred on her secondment experience in Nigeria with NAFDAC, exploring how medicines quality influences antimicrobial resistance and what this means for regulation, public health, and global systems.

A new segment, On My Radar, introduces the concept of One Health, examining how human medicines, such as fluoxetine, are impacting ecosystems in unexpected ways. This opens up a broader conversation about the hidden pathways through which pharmaceuticals shape both human and environmental health.

The episode closes by setting expectations for the season ahead, including in-depth discussions, expert interviews, and a continued commitment to making science accessible, relevant, and impactful.

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