President Bola Tinubu has appointed Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa as the new Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR). The appointment is effective from Wednesday, July 24, following the expiration of Professor Babatunde Salako’s tenure on Tuesday, July 23.
In a statement released by his special adviser on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu expressed his gratitude to Professor Salako for his dedicated service to the nation.
Professor Obafunwa, a renowned expert in Anatomic Pathology and Forensic Pathology, brings extensive experience and qualifications to the role. He has worked in various countries, including the UK, USA, and Nigeria, and has held several leadership positions, including serving as the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University.
President Tinubu expects Professor Obafunwa to advance NIMR’s mission of leading research into public health diseases in Nigeria, developing effective dissemination structures for research findings, and fostering an environment conducive to health research and training.
Professor Obafunwa graduated in medicine from the University of Lagos in 1980, specialized in Anatomic Pathology in 1987, and later sub-specialized in Forensic Pathology in Scotland in 1991. He also earned a law degree in 2004 and holds several academic qualifications and memberships in professional bodies in the UK, USA, and Nigeria. His career includes roles in the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and the UK before returning to Nigeria in 2004 to join Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) as a Professor of Forensic Pathology. He has also served as the Provost of LASUCOM, Chief Medical Examiner for Lagos State, and Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University. Prior to his new 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 spans anatomic and forensic pathology, with ongoing research in forensic entomology and taphonomy at the University of Nebraska, USA.
The President anticipates that Professor Obafunwa will leverage his vast experience to drive NIMR’s objectives, enhance research dissemination, and provide a supportive environment for health research and training in collaboration with federal and state health ministries.