PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Professor John Obafunwa as the new Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR). He is succeeding Professor Babatunde Salako, whose term concludes on July 23, 2024.
According to a statement from the Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Professor Obafunwa’s appointment will take effect on July 24, 2024. President Tinubu also expressed his gratitude to Professor Salako for his contributions to the nation.
Professor Obafunwa earned his medical degree from the University of Lagos in 1980 and went on to specialize in Anatomic Pathology, graduating in May 1987. He further specialized in Forensic Pathology in Scotland in 1991 and obtained a law degree in England in 2004. He holds multiple academic qualifications and is a member of various professional organizations in the UK, USA, and Nigeria.
Before returning to Nigeria in November 2004, he worked in the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and the UK. He took up a position as Professor of Forensic Pathology at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), where he also served as Provost and was the Chief Medical Examiner for Lagos State.
He is a former provost of LASUCOM, Chief Medical Examiner for Lagos State, and former Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University. Before his appointment, he was the International Regional Advisor of the Royal College of Pathologists (UK) for Sub-Saharan Africa.
Professor Obafunwa has authored numerous scientific publications and contributed chapters to textbooks. His research covers areas in anatomic and forensic pathology, and he is currently engaged in research on forensic entomology and taphonomy at the University of Nebraska, USA.
The President anticipates that the new Director-General will leverage his extensive experience and qualifications to advance NIMR’s mission of spearheading research on diseases of public health significance in Nigeria, establishing frameworks for sharing research outcomes, and creating the necessary environment and facilities for health research and training in collaboration with federal and state health ministries.