Professor Oyewale Tomori was born in Ilesa, Osun State on February 3, 1946. Among others, he holds doctorate degrees in Veterinary Medicine and Virology; and a number of Fellowships & professional certificates. Administrator, educationist and community developer, Professor Oyewale Tomori has served in academia for over forty years. He was with the College of Medicine & University College Hospital of the University of Ibadan from 1971 to 1994. Starting off as a Research Fellow II, he attained the rank of Professor in ten years. He also variously served as two-term Head, Department of Virology & Director, WHO Centre for Arbo-virus Reference & Research; and Director, Post-Graduate Institute for Medical Research & Training. In 1994, he was appointed Regional Virologist/Laboratory Co-ordinator, WHO Africa Regional Office. Ten years later, he became pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Redeemer’s University, Ogun State. With a philosophy of education for nation building, Professor Oyewale Tomori has made tremendous impact through his specialties. Some of his contributions are telling:
n In his first career decade, he acquired and developed diagnostic skills; using them to seek solutions to the problems of viral disease epidemics. His main focus in the last decade has been on training and developing younger researchers.
n Backed by several scholarships, grants and travel fellowships, Professor Oyewale Tomori has been a major research catalyst; indeed, a strong ally of top laboratories, institutions and Governments involved with Arbo-viruses. Interestingly, his Ph.D. Thesis is titled “Orungo [UGMP 359 virus] — A Hitherto Undescribed Virus”.
n He was in the vanguard of research efforts into a range of dreaded diseases, including Lassa Fever, Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, Yellow Fever, Marburg in many African countries.
n At Ibadan, he progressively instituted a regimen that empowered young students to take on the increasing challenges of health sciences within and beyond Africa.
n Practically ‘On Call’ across the world, his other critical assignments include: founding Chairman, Board of the Bio-Vaccines Limited; Committee membership for Africa Regional Polio Certification, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Polio Certification, WHO Advisory on Variola Virus Research, WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts, WHO Polio Research, WHO Group of Experts on Yellow Fever Disease, and International Consortium on Anti-Virals, Canada.
n His focus at WHO Regional Office in Harare was to integrate laboratory diagnostic services with disease surveillance for disease prevention and control. Outcomes included the establishment of a reliable and functional African Network of Polio Laboratories as well as laboratory networks for measles, yellow fever and influenza.
n As Redeemer’s University’s Chief Executive & Chief Academic Officer for seven years, he contributed significantly to developing and moulding the future generation of Nigerians, with a vision for a better Nigeria. He laid the foundation for that institution’s reputation for espousing and engendering moral rebirth and acquisition of usable knowledge and marketable skills.
n He has delivered Virology lectures in other tertiary institutions; and supervised & examined several students at the Master’s and Doctoral levels in medicine, veterinary medicine & biological sciences. He is also
involved in the training of Public Health Officers on disease surveillance, prevention and control.
n He is author and co-author of many publications and informed presentations, and a regular feature on lecture circuits, with active participation in several conferences, workshops, seminars and related fora across the world.
Deservedly, Professor Oyewale Tomori has been honoured locally and internationally for his contributions. They include:
Ø Foundation Fellow, the College of Veterinary Surgeons of Nigeria; Fellow, the Royal College of Pathologists of the UK; Fellow, the Nigerian Academy of Sciences; and recipient of the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award
Ø Elevated to 1 of only 40 Fellows (The World Over) of the American Society of Tropical Medicine &Hygiene.
USA Public Health Service Certificate for invaluable contributions to Lassa Fever Research.
Ø The Government of Cote D’Ivoire renamed its ‘Enterovirus & Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Laboratory’ at the Institute Pasteur to ‘Oyewale Tomori Laboratory’.
Ø The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Science & Technology Merit Award for excellence in medical research.
Currently, the President of Nigerian Academy of Science, Professor Tomori is happily married to Mrs. Aderemi Omowumi Tomori and blessed with children.
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Ladies and Gentlemen, Hallmarks of Labour Foundation proudly presents Professsor Oyewale Tomori, Professor of Medicine, educationist and University administrator to receive the “HLF-Umaru Shehu Life-Time Award for Consistent Advocacy for Positive Change within the University System”.
Congratulations.
Award Category: HLF-Umaru Shehu Life-Time Award for Consistent Advocacy for Positive Change within the University System