*President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expects Prof. John Oladapo Obafunwa as new Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research to bring his immense wealth of experience and qualifications to bear on his role to further drive the Institute’s objective of leading research into diseases of public health importance in the country

Emmanuel Akosile | 绿帽献妻

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Prof. John Oladapo Obafunwa as the new Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR).

Prof. Obafunwa, whose new appointment takes effect from appointment takes effect from July 24, 2024, will succeed Prof. Babatunde Salako, whose tenure of office expires on July 23 this year.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement Monday, July 22, disclosed President Tinubu extended his gratitude to Prof. Salako for his service to Nigeria.

Obafunwa qualified in Medicine from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), in 1980, following which he specialised in Anatomic Pathology (morphological study of diseases), graduating May 1987.

The newly-appointed Director-General of NIMR later sub-specialised in Forensic Pathology in Scotland (1991) and obtained a law degree from England (2004).

He has a number of other academic qualifications, and holds membership of various professional bodies in Nigeria, United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US).

Prior to his latest appointment, Prof. Obafunwa also had worked in the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and the UK before returning to Nigeria in November 2004 to take up an appointment as Professor of Forensic Pathology at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM).

He is a former provost of LASUCOM, Chief Medical Examiner for Lagos State, and former Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo.

Before his appointment, he was the International Regional Adviser of the Royal College of Pathologists (UK) for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Obafunwa has authored several scientific publications and contributed chapters to textbooks.

His research spans anatomic and forensic pathology, and he is currently involved in research in forensic entomology and taphonomy at the University of Nebraska, in the US.

The statement noted: 鈥淭he President expects the new Director-General to bring his immense wealth of experience and qualifications to bear in this role to further drive the NIMR’s objective of leading research into diseases of public health importance in Nigeria, and developing structures for the dissemination of research findings while providing the enabling environment and facilities for health research and training in cooperation with the Federal and state ministries of health.鈥�

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