Biography of Prof. John Obafunwa, new NIMR Director General

In this post, News360 Nigeria highlights all you should know about Prof. John Obafunwa, new Director-General of NIMR.

Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa has been appointed as the new Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), effective immediately, as confirmed by President Bola Tinubu.

Professor Obafunwa takes over for Professor Babatunde Salako, whose term ends on July 23, 2024.

Here’s a brief profile of Prof. John Obafunwa.

Professor John Obafunwa is a medical expert, pathologist, lawyer, author and former Vice-chancellor of the Lagos State University who hails from Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State.

He received his medical degree from the University of Lagos in 1980.

He then went on to specialize in anatomic pathology, which is the morphological study of diseases, and graduated in May 1987.

In 1991, he graduated with a Diploma in medical jurisprudence from the University of Edinburgh Medical School, Scotland before he became a member of the Royal College of Pathologists in 1992.

He also hold a Bachelor of Laws degree after he graduated from Northumbria University, England in 2004.

He later sub-specialized in Forensic Pathology in Scotland.

Prior to returning to Nigeria in November 2004 to assume a position as Professor of Forensic Pathology at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), he had worked in the UK, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands.

Before he was named as the 7th Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, Obafunwa has worked and served in several educational and medical organizations including the Forensic Medicine Unit, University of Edinburgh Medical School and South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust.

He served as Head of Department of the Department of Pathology, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau before he was appointed as a Professor of Forensic pathology at the Department of Pathology and Anatomy, Lagos State University College of Medicine in 2001.

He served as the Provost of Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja Campus from March 2006 to February 2010 before he was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University.

He served as the Royal College of Pathologists (UK)’s International Regional Advisor for Sub-Saharan Africa prior to his appointment.

He has written chapters for textbooks and several scientific publications. His areas of expertise include anatomic pathology and forensic entomology. He is currently conducting research at the University of Nebraska in the United States on taphonomy and forensic entomology.

Prof. Obafunwa is a fellow of the American College of Legal Medicine and the National Association of Medical Examiners and also a member of several reputable organizations including the Association of Pathologists of Nigeria, the Forensic Science Society  the British Association of Forensic Medicine, British Academy of Forensic Sciences, American Association of Forensic Sciences,  World Association of Police Surgeons, American College of Forensic Examiners and the College of American Pathologists.