By Akinnusimi Omosewa
A professor at the University of Benin has attained one of the highest honours in the fields of health and medicine, as he has been elected into the U.S.-based National Academy of Medicine. Professor Friday Okonofua is expected to be decorated with the award in the United States at a later date.
The U.S.-based National Academy of Medicine acknowledged his work on the global scholarly leadership of national and international researchers in intervention strategies for preventing maternal mortality, which has had tremendous impacts on policies and programmes in African countries.
Professor Okonofua has held commendable positions in prestigious universities across the country, where he led several impactful research projects. He excelled as the leader of the Centre of Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation (CERHI) and World Bank projects.
He was also the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo State, Nigeria. He was a member of the Harvard Tekemi Fellowship at Harvard University, U.S.A., and he is currently the Secretary General of Sciences in Kenya.
Professor Okonofua has also authored four books and published over 360 journals and articles. His numerous achievements have not only been impactful within the country, but they have also transcended borders, thereby earning him global recognition in the fields of health and medicine.