President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of John Obafunwa as the new director-general of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR).

According to a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, the president’s spokesman, on Monday, Mr Obafunwa will succeed Babatunde Salako, whose tenure expires on July 23.

The appointment takes effect on July 24.

“President Tinubu extends his gratitude to Professor Salako for his service to the nation,” said the statement.

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.

He also expects him to develop structures for disseminating research findings while providing the enabling environment and facilities for health research and training in cooperation with the federal and state ministries of health.

Mr Obafunwa qualified in medicine from the University of Lagos in 1980, after which he specialised in anatomic pathology (the morphological study of diseases), graduating in May 1987.

He later sub-specialised in forensic pathology in Scotland (1991) and obtained a law degree from England (2004).

Mr Obafunwa has several other academic qualifications and is a member of various professional bodies in the UK, USA, and Nigeria.

He had worked in the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and the UK before returning to Nigeria in November 2004 to be appointed as Professor of Forensic Pathology at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM).

(NAN)