President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Prof. John Obafunwa as the new Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR). This was announced in a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s spokesman, on Monday.
Prof. Obafunwa will succeed Prof. Babatunde Salako, whose tenure expires on July 23. The appointment takes effect from July 24.
According to the statement, President Tinubu expects the new Director-General to bring his 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.
Prof. Obafunwa qualified in medicine from the University of Lagos in 1980 and specialized in Anatomic Pathology and Forensic Pathology in Scotland and England, respectively. He also holds a law degree from England and has worked in various countries, including the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and the UK, before returning to Nigeria in 2004.
The President expressed his gratitude to Prof. Salako for his service to the nation and expects the new Director-General to develop structures for the dissemination of research findings and provide an enabling environment for health research and training.
