Speakers’ Bios

Professor Folasade Tolulope Ogunsola is a distinguished Medical doctor, academic subspecialising in Pathology (Medical microbiology) who has made significant contributions to Nigeria’s education and healthcare sectors. Her extensive career spans across academia, research, leadership, and public health, making her one of the most respected figures in Nigerian science and education.

Born in London, Professor Ogunsola pursued her early education in the sciences and later graduated with a degree in Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University. She furthered her education with a master’s degree in Medical Microbiology from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL), and a Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology from the University of Wales College of Medicine. She obtained her postgraduate fellowships in Medicine becoming a Fellow of the National Postgraduate College in Pathology and West African College of Physicians (Laboratory Medicine) by examination.

Her research focuses on infectious diseases, particularly the prevention and control of infections in hospital environments. She has specialized in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), antimicrobial resistance, and HIV/AIDS research.

She has over 160 publications in peer-reviewed journals and books, contributing to global knowledge on infection control and antibiotic resistance on the basis of which she was awarded the Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists UK and inducted as a Fellow of the National Academy of Medicine, and a Foundation fellow of both the National Academy of Medicine and the Academy of Medical specialties. She has been an active educator and researcher at the University of Lagos, where she held various academic positions, including Professor of Medical Microbiology and Consultant Clinical Microbiologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

One of Professor Ogunsola’s most significant achievements is her trailblazing role as the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, a position she assumed in 2022. Prior to this, she had served as the pioneer Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services) where she, with her team, elevated the profile of University of Lagos Internationalisation agenda and strengthened the innovation and entrepreneurship capacity. She was appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university in a period of great turmoil where she stabilised and calmed the community. Her appointment marked a historic milestone in gender representation within Nigerian academia, and she has been celebrated for breaking barriers for women in higher education leadership.

During her tenure, Professor Ogunsola has focused on enhancing the quality of education at the University of Lagos, improving research outputs, and fostering collaboration between academia and industry. She has been an advocate for the digital transformation of education, believing in the importance of equipping students with 21st-century skills. Under her leadership, the university has made strides in becoming a hub for innovation and research in Africa.

In addition to her academic work, Professor Ogunsola has been actively involved in public health initiatives. Her expertise in infection control has made her a key figure in Nigeria’s response to public health challenges, particularly in the fight against the infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and COVID-19. She has worked with various international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) collaborated with international bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO), CDC Atlanta, African CDC and the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to develop policies and strategies for combating infectious diseases.

Her commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists, particularly young women, has been a hallmark of her career. She advocates for more representation of women in STEM fields and leadership and serves as a role model for aspiring female scientists and leaders in Nigeria and beyond. She remains a powerful advocate for education, women’s empowerment, and the improvement of healthcare systems across Africa. She loves to read, sing, and travel in her spare time and is married with Children and grandchildren.

Prof. Dimie Ogoina is an internationally renowned infectious disease expert, academic leader, and public health advocate, currently serving as the Vice-Chancellor of Bayelsa Medical University (BMU), Nigeria. Appointed in October 2024, Prof. Ogoina brings over two decades of experience in medicine, research, and leadership, with a vision to transform BMU into a globally recognized leader in medical education, research, and healthcare innovation.

Prof. Ogoina earned his MBBS from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and completed his residency in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. He holds fellowships from the West African College of Physicians (FWACP), the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (FMCP), the American College of Physicians (FACP), and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (FIDSA).

His leadership experience spans key roles, including Chief Medical Director of the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Acting Provost of the College of Health Sciences at Niger Delta University, and President of the Nigerian Infectious Diseases Society (NIDS). Internationally, he serves as Chair of the WHO Emergency Committee on Mpox Upsurge and as an External Expert for the US CDC.

Prof. Ogoina is a prolific researcher with over 98 scientific publications in prestigious journals like The Lancet and New England Journal of Medicine. His groundbreaking work on mpox has shaped global health strategies, earning him accolades such as Nature’s Top 10 Scientists in 2022 and a place among Time’s 100 Most Influential People in 2023. With over 4,671 citations and an h-index of 28 on Google Scholar, his research continues to drive global health policy and innovation.

An advocate of digital transformation, Prof. Ogoina has developed healthcare apps, spearheaded mentorship programs like the D LENS Mentorship Series, and champions technology-driven education and healthcare. He is deeply committed to advancing academic excellence and public health both locally and globally.

Summary
As a result-oriented public health physician with 19 years of experience in acute healthcare settings, I am dedicated to leveraging my expertise to improve healthcare delivery, enhance patient outcomes, and safeguard public health. My background spans key areas including Primary Care, Healthcare Quality Improvement, Patient Safety, Infection Prevention and Control, Project Management, Leadership, Training, and Research. Throughout my career, I have consistently applied evidence-based practices to provide exceptional medical care, manage healthcare projects, and contribute to meaningful improvements in healthcare systems.

Work
• Public Health Physician and IPC focal person at Federal Medical Center Umuahia
• Senior Lecturer at Gregory University College of Medicine Umuahia.
• Former Head of the Community Medicine Department at FMC Umuahia
• Professional interest in healthcare quality, patient safety, and clinical epidemiology. Passionate about improving health outcomes for patients using evidence-based strategies.
• Serve as consultant to government agencies and non-governmental organizations on IPC, healthcare quality improvement, community-based health interventions, population-based surveys, and project management.
Education
• Fellow of the West African College of Physicians
• Fellow of the International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua), Ireland.
• Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), USA.
• Master of Applied Science in Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality (Johns Hopkins University, USA)
• Master of Public Health (University of Lagos, Nigeria)
• Diploma in Infection Prevention and Control (College of Medicine, University of Lagos)
• Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) (Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria)

Leadership
• Executive Chairman, Ease of Practice Initiative (EoPI) of the Medical and Dental Association Consultants of Nigeria (MDCAN)
• Former Chapter Chairman, MDCAN FMC Umuahia
• Former Secretary, NMA Abia State
• Former President, Association of Resident Doctors FMC Umuahia
• Former Chairman, Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA), Abia State
Social and Family
• Happily married with children
• Songwriter

An Occupational Health and Safety Management Consultant with over 22 years work experience. He holds both MBA and MSc in Workplace Health and Safety and a number of international certificates.

He is a Doctoral Fellow with Workplace Health and Wellness Promotion as a study area.

He works as a CEO at Occupational Health and Safety Managers and Head of Faculty at OSHversity.

Ehi is a Mental Health Ambassador and a Member External Review Group to WHO on Mental Health at Workplaces. A member Occupational Health and Safety Expert Group to African Union and President, OSHAfrica.

Interest: Africanization

A dentist, Certified Healthcare Quality Professional (CPHQ), and Manager of Quality and Organisational Excellence; and ISO 9001 QMS Lead Auditor with over 30 years combined experience in clinical practice, teaching, research, project management, conformity assessment, compliance monitoring, quality management, and patient safety advisor, she has worked in academic, private and government organisations in Nigeria, the UK, and the English-speaking Caribbean.

As part of the C-suite in two of the 99th percentile hospitals in Nigeria (government and private) she led teams that drove significant improvements in service quality and health outcomes. The first bona fide Quality Assurance Manager in a Nigerian University Teaching Hospital, she was involved in the development of a QI framework, key performance measures for healthcare professionals, and service quality evaluation resulting in the training of 50 clinical, technical, and administrative staff in ISO 9001:2008 QMS implementation, and an international award for service quality. She was a member of the team involved in the surveillance audit of the first private hospital in Nigeria to receive NIS ISO 9001:2008 QMS certification and subsequently, COHSASA accreditation.

An ITEA preliminary judge (ASQ-2011 and 2012) she has served on international, NGOs and government-appointed advisory, technical and expert committees. She served as Principal Investigator for 3 national child oral health surveys and as a consultant to the PAHO and CARICOM on oral health promotion.

Her formal involvement in healthcare quality improvement followed a commissioned report on the pre-licensure extramural programme for pioneer dentists trained in the West Indies (1994). She was involved in ensuring compliance with the General Dental Council [UK] and American Dental Association requirements (1994-1995).

A member of Management Committees -University of the West Indies Faculty of Medical Sciences (Dean’s Executive Committee and Associate Dean Student Affairs); King’s College School of Dentistry, University of London; Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and, Lily Hospital Warri, and the Programmes and Training Committee (SQHN). She is a facilitator on the CIQPS Course (SQHN) and the DIPC Course (CMUL).

She remains a contributor to thought leadership on the implementation of healthcare quality improvement interventions in resource-limited environments. An advocate of glocal models for the ‘design for quality’, her vision is for best practice, and health outcomes to become the preferred measures for making reliable and valid choices regarding the quality and safety of healthcare delivery and service provision in Nigeria.

Dr Olufunmilola (Funmi) Makanjuola is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, and a Consultant Clinical Microbiologist to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria.
She studied Medicine at the University of Ibadan, thereafter, specialized in Medical Microbiology at the University College Hospital Ibadan, obtaining the Fellowship of the Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College in Pathology. She holds Master of Science degree in Epidemiology from the University of Ibadan and a Diploma in Medical Mycology from the Pasteur Institute, Paris France.
She is interested in the epidemiology of infectious diseases especially in hospitalized individuals. Her research and clinical activities have focused on fungal infections, control of infection and antimicrobial resistance. As an infection control practitioner, she is a member of the UCH IPC team and currently the IPC focal person.

Dr Usman has been part of the success story of transforming the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Metta, to a model healthcare facility in the country.

As the head of Quality Improvement and Infection Control of the institution, he and his team propelled the hospital to attain a 4 star ratings in 2021 by Safe Care, an organization that is accredited by the International Society for Quality in Health Care External Evaluation Association (IEEA).

Dr Olagoke Usman is a graduate of the University of Ilorin and a fellow of the West African College of Physicians, faculty of family medicine. He also bagged a Diploma in Infection Prevention and Control, College of Medicine, University of Lagos.

He is a very senior consultant (Consultant Special Grade 1) and a trainer of resident doctors at the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Metta, Lagos.
He is currently the hospital IPC Focal Person and the HOD, Department of Quality Improvement and Infection Control.