President Bola Tinubu has appointed Professor John Obafunwa as the new Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), succeeding Professor Babatunde Salako, whose tenure expires on July 23, 2024. The appointment, effective from July 24, 2024, was announced in a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity.
President Tinubu expressed his gratitude to Professor Salako for his dedicated service to the nation during his tenure at NIMR.
Professor Obafunwa brings a wealth of experience and a distinguished academic background to his new role. He graduated in medicine from the University of Lagos in 1980 and specialized in Anatomic Pathology, earning his credentials in May 1987. Furthering his expertise, he sub-specialized in Forensic Pathology in Scotland in 1991 and obtained a law degree from England in 2004. He holds several academic qualifications and is a member of various professional bodies in the UK, USA, and Nigeria.
His professional career includes positions in the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and the UK before returning to Nigeria in November 2004 as a Professor of Forensic Pathology at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM). 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 appointment, he was the International Regional Advisor of the Royal College of Pathologists (UK) for Sub-Saharan Africa.
Professor Obafunwa has an extensive portfolio of scientific publications and has contributed chapters to various textbooks. His research interests include anatomic and forensic pathology, with current research in forensic entomology and taphonomy at the University of Nebraska, USA.
President Tinubu expressed his confidence in Professor Obafunwa’s ability to leverage his extensive experience and qualifications to advance NIMR’s mission. He emphasized the importance of leading research into public health diseases in Nigeria, developing structures for disseminating research findings, and providing a conducive environment for health research and training in collaboration with federal and state health ministries.
