President Bola Tinubu has appointed John Obafunwa as the new director-general of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), effective July 24.
Obafunwa will succeed Babatunde Salako, whose tenure ends on July 23.
The announcement was made on Monday by Ajuri Ngelale, the president’s spokesman.
“President Tinubu extends his gratitude to Professor Salako for his service to the nation,” Ngelale stated.
The president expects Obafunwa to use his extensive experience and qualifications to advance NIMR’s mission of leading research into significant public health diseases in Nigeria.
Additionally, Obafunwa is anticipated to develop systems for disseminating research findings and provide an enabling environment and facilities for health research and training in collaboration with federal and state health ministries.
John Obafunwa graduated in medicine from the University of Lagos in 1980 and specialized in anatomic pathology in 1987. He further specialized in forensic pathology in Scotland in 1991 and obtained a law degree from England in 2004.
Obafunwa holds multiple academic qualifications and is a member of various professional bodies in the UK, USA, and Nigeria. He has worked in the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and the UK before returning to Nigeria in November 2004, when he was appointed as Professor of Forensic Pathology at Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM).