President Bola Tinubu has appointed the former vice-chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), John Obafunwa as the director-general (DG) of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR).
Obafunwa will succeed Babatunde Salako, the outgoing DG of NIMR, whose tenure will expire on July 23.
In a statement on Monday, Presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, said the appointment of Obafunwa takes effect on July 24.
President Tinubu commended Salako for his service to the country.
The statement added, “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.”
In 2011, Obafunwa was appointed the vice chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU). He served in the position until 2015.
He studied medicine at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) from 1975 to 1980.
He took his residency in morbid anatomy and anatomic pathology at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, and became certified with the Fellowship of the National College in Pathology (FMCPath).
Obafunwa was the state pathologist for the Cayman Islands and the Republic of Bermuda.
In November 2004, he took up an appointment as a professor of forensic pathology at the College of Medicine, LASU.
In 2006, he was appointed provost of the college of medicine at LASU.
He had also served as the international regional advisor of the Royal College of Pathologists (UK) for Africa.
He is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the British Association of Forensic Pathologists.
He has an LLB (Hons.) degree from Northumbra University, UK.
Obafunwa has authored several scientific publications and contributed chapters to textbooks. 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.
