Tinubu appoints ex-LASU VC, Prof. John Obafunwa, NIMR DG

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Prof. John Obafunwa as the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), effective July 24, 2024.

A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, said Obafunwa, a former Lagos State University (LASU) Vice-Chancellor, will take over from Prof. Babatunde Salako, whose tenure as Director-General ends on July 23, 2024.

It said the president extended his appreciation to the outgoing DG for his service to the nation and wished him well in his future endeavours.

“The 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.

“The President 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,” it said.

Obafunwa earned his medical degree from the University of Lagos in 1980, then pursued specialized training in Anatomic Pathology, completing it in 1987.

He further honed his expertise in forensic Pathology in Scotland in 1991 and later obtained a law degree in England in 2004.

His impressive academic credentials also include additional qualifications, and he holds memberships in various professional organizations in the UK, USA, and Nigeria.

Prior to his appointment, Obafunwa had a distinguished international career, working in the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and the UK.

In November 2004, he returned to Nigeria to become a Professor of Forensic Pathology at Lagos State University College of Medicine.

He has held various leadership positions, including Provost of LASUCOM, Chief Medical Examiner for Lagos State, and Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University.

Most recently, he served as the International Regional Advisor for Sub-Saharan Africa for the Royal College of Pathologists in the UK.

Obafunwa has a prolific record of scientific publishing, with numerous research papers and contributions to esteemed textbooks.

His expertise encompasses both anatomic and forensic pathology, and he is currently engaged in groundbreaking research on forensic entomology and taphonomy at the University of Nebraska in the United States.