UNILAG Freshers Kick Off Toxicology Exercise As New Academic Journey Begins

By Sherif Salau

The University of Lagos has started its new academic session with a familiar but serious first step for thousands of newly admitted students. Today, the institution’s mandatory toxicology screening exercise began at the Jelili Adebisi Omotola Multipurpose Hall on the Akoka campus, marking the formal start of clearance processes for the 2026/2027 academic year.

The screening, which runs on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. until Friday, December 18, is a long-standing university policy. Every newly admitted candidate—whether through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination or Direct Entry—must complete the drug test before proceeding to admission screening and full registration. The university describes it as a prerequisite designed to uphold standards of health and discipline within the student community.

For many freshers, the exercise represents the first concrete interaction with the institution after receiving their admission offers. Candidates are required to book an appointment through a designated Google Form, print the confirmation slip sent to their registered email, and present proof of payment generated via the UNILAG student portal. Only those who complete these steps are admitted into the screening hall.

The process is orderly but deliberate. Students arrive with their documents, undergo sample collection by the university’s toxicology team, and leave with the knowledge that clearance for the next stages of registration depends on a successful outcome. University officials have emphasised that the exercise must be finished before candidates can move on to the broader admission screening and course registration.

The policy reflects a broader institutional stance. UNILAG has maintained mandatory drug testing for new intakes for several years, framing it as part of its commitment to a safe learning environment. While some students approach the test with mild anxiety, others treat it as a routine administrative hurdle—one more box to tick on the long road from admission letter to lecture hall.

Beyond the practical requirements, the screening carries symbolic weight. It signals the transition from secondary school or previous academic life into the more structured world of university expectations. For parents and guardians, it offers a measure of reassurance that the institution is taking steps to monitor substance-related risks among the incoming cohort.

As the exercise unfolds over the coming weeks, the Multipurpose Hall will remain a busy hub of activity. Freshers will continue to file in with appointment slips and payment receipts, each one taking the first formal step of their UNILAG journey. Those who complete the process on time will clear the path to registration; those who delay risk bottlenecks later in the admission calendar.

For the Class of 2026/2027, the toxicology screening is more than a medical formality. It is the opening chapter of university life—one that blends administrative necessity with the university’s stated values of responsibility and preparedness. As the halls fill each morning, a new generation of students begins the work of becoming full members of the University of First Choice.