Sodiq Ojuroungbe
The outgoing Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Prof. Babatunde Salako, has advised his successor, Prof. John Obafunwa, to prioritise the welfare of the staff of the institution.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had on Monday, appointed Obafunwa as the new DG of NIMR with effect from July 24, 2024.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, stated this in a statement titled “President Tinubu appoints new Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research” in Abuja.
According to the statement, Obafunwa succeeds Salako, whose tenure expires on July 23, 2024.
Speaking exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise shortly after the institute organised a send-forth ceremony for him, Salako emphasised the importance of respecting staff, being concerned about their welfare and output, and focusing on innovative research that could inform policy and lead to product development.
Citing his experience, he noted that these strategies had worked in the past and could be replicated by his successor.
According to him, the new DG must focus on promoting a culture of mutual respect, fairness, and transparency.
He also stressed the need for the incoming DG to be concerned about staff welfare, particularly about promotions and measurable outputs.
He added, “Well, I will tell the incoming DG to respect the staff because that’s very important, though respect is mutual. Be concerned about their welfare, especially about their promotion, and be concerned about their output, especially output that can be measured.
“That will be of immense advantage to the institution and to the individuals to focus on innovative research that can lead to policy brief to support government policies and actions and that will lead to product development that can cause economic emancipation for the institution and by extension for the country.”
Salako maintained that the new DG must be transparent, fair and come with equity the institution to witness peace and progress.
“And once he can do all of this, it will not be difficult for him to gain the confidence of the workers. I mean, this we have done before. It has worked for us. So we don’t see why it cannot work for any other person”, he added
Meanwhile, the new DG qualified in medicine from the University of Lagos in 1980, following which he specialized in Anatomic Pathology (morphological study of diseases), graduating in May 1987.
He later sub-specialised in Forensic Pathology in Scotland in 1991 and obtained a law degree from England in 2004. He has several other academic qualifications and holds membership in various professional bodies in the UK, USA, and Nigeria.
Obafunwa had worked in the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and the UK before returning to Nigeria in November 2004 to take up an appointment as a Professor of Forensic Pathology at the Lagos State University College of Medicine.
He is a former provost of LASUCOM, Chief Medical Examiner for Lagos State, and former Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University. Before his appointment, he was the International Regional Advisor of the Royal College of Pathologists, United Kingdom, for Sub-Saharan Africa.
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.
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