President Tinubu Appoints Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa as New Director-General of NIMR

In a significant development for the Nigerian medical research community, President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa as the new Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR). The appointment takes effect from July 24, 2024.

Professor Obafunwa succeeds Professor Babatunde Salako, whose tenure expires on July 23, 2024. The announcement was made by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement released on Monday, July 22, 2024.

Professor Obafunwa is a highly qualified medical professional with a wealth of experience in the field of medicine and medical research. He qualified in medicine from the University of Lagos in 1980, following which he specialized in Anatomic Pathology (morphological study of diseases), graduating in May 1987.

He later sub-specialized in Forensic Pathology in Scotland (1991) and obtained a law degree from England (2004). Professor Obafunwa has a number of other academic qualifications and holds membership in various professional bodies in the UK, USA, and Nigeria.

Before his appointment, Professor Obafunwa had worked in the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and the UK. He returned 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 had also served as the International Regional Advisor of the Royal College of Pathologists (UK) for Sub-Saharan Africa. His research spans anatomic and forensic pathology, and he is currently involved in research in forensic entomology and taphonomy at the University of Nebraska, USA.

President Tinubu 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. The President also expects him to develop 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.

The appointment of Professor Obafunwa is seen as a positive development for the Nigerian medical research community, and it is hoped that he will bring fresh ideas and direction to the NIMR, helping to advance the country’s medical research capabilities and contribute to the improvement of public health in Nigeria.