The newly appointed Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa has pledged his commitment to serve Nigerians heartily in his new office, as he sought the full support of staff members and the Federal Government to succeed in the role. He said he has no intention to invent a new wheel in the institute, but to build on the solid foundation already laid by his predecessor.
Recall that Obafunwa, a former Vice -Chancellor of the Lagos State University, Ojo, was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the new CEO of NIMR on 22 July, 2024, and he was to succeed the outgoing DG, Prof. Babatunde Lawal Salako, whose tenure ended on 23 July, 2024.
Prof. Obafunwa, who received the paraphernalia of office on Friday, at the official handover ceremony organised by his predecessor at the institute, assured the management team of his willingness to work with all staff members for the progress of NIMR, and the wellbeing of all Nigerians. He pleaded with them for their cooperation, assuring he won’t be a disappointment, if given the chance to work together for progress.
“I won’t be a disappointment to you and by extension to all Nigerians. Just give me a chance to work and all will be well.
“My intention here is not to re-invent the wheel, I will consolidate on the good foundation already laid by my predecessor. I love diligence, hard work and punctuality.
“I love excellence and I have been told that everyone here love that too. I strongly believe that we will achieve a lot if you will give me the chance to work. I respect people a lot and I will never be rude to anybody”, he promised.
Introducing the new DG to the management team earlier, Prof. Salako described him as a disciplinarian who does not condone laziness and indolence from staff members, but not a difficult person to work with. Nonetheless, he noted that he had explained to him the nature of staff he will be relating with, and to get the best of them.
Salako, who narrated his intimate discussion with Obafunwa prior to the meeting, said the first thing he did for his successor on meeting him in office today was to pray for his success, as he wishes to hear of the progress of the institute a couple of years later. And to achieve that success, he mentioned to Obafunwa that the cooperation of the staff members is sacrosanct.
The outgoing NIMR DG sought the holistic support of all the staff members for Obafunwa, saying that although he is the head of the institution, and the bulk stops at his desk, but he can’t perform everyone’s roles in the institute. So he needs all hands to be on deck for the attained height in the institute to be sustained.
Prof. Salako said, ” The first thing I did for him this morning was to pray for him in my office, and to say that I would like to hear that NIMR is better than when Salako was there. That it is not a compliment for me to say that since Salako left, the place has gone down. It means we did not put down a solid structure that he can build on. I told him that one on one, and I believe that he understands deeply what I meant by that. And because of that, I am soliciting your support for the DG.
“Prof. comes with a big pack of experience in terms of administration and dealing with people and students who may even be the most troublesome. My observation is that the professor is a strict person in terms of being strict. You know what that means, and that is probably why you read all sorts of things. Some people don’t like to fall in line, and he doesn’t like people who don’t fall in line. Thus, the way to relate better with him to fall in line.
“And I’m saying this so that you will understand the terrain that you are going to be dealing with. That is not going to come as a rude shock to you. So, you won’t start on a negative note in relating with him. But when you know people, and you understand them, and you respect that principle, you are very, very unlikely to run into trouble with them. And they are also unlikely to run into trouble with you. For him, I’ve also told him that he has to ensure that those principles do remain, but they are a little less tight.”
Prof. Salako also tasked the staff members on honest communication with their new leader, in the interest of all Nigerians and that of NIMR, because he has the mandate of the nation to make the institute productive in enhancing the health of the nation, through innovative research and discoveries.
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