Professor Akinyemi Olugbenga D. Ofakunrin, MBBS, M.Sc., FMCPaed, MWACP is a Professor of Paediatrics, Consultant Paediatrician and Specialist in Paediatric Haematology & Oncology, Sickle Cell Disease, and Child Health
Professor Akinyemi Olugbenga D. Ofakunrin is a Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Jos and Consultant Paediatrician at Jos University Teaching Hospital, with specialist expertise in paediatric haematology and oncology. He earned his MBBS from the University of Ilorin in 2004, M.Sc. in Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Jos in 2020, Membership of the West African College of Physicians (Paediatrics) in 2010, and Fellowship of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (Paediatrics) in 2015.
His clinical and research interests focus on sickle cell disease - particularly disease-modifying therapies, newborn screening, and prevention of complications—as well as childhood cancers, paediatric haematological disorders, and implementation research aimed at strengthening evidence-based child health care in resource-limited settings.
Professor Ofakunrin is an experienced clinician, researcher, and medical educator who has led and contributed to multicentre and international collaborative studies, including projects funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). He is a Fogarty Fellow and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Fellow, with international clinical and academic experience at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom.
He contributes to global health research as a Senior Collaborator with the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington, USA. His work encompasses medical education, research capacity development, mentorship, and translation of research evidence into improved child health services. Professor Ofakunrin has authored and co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications and maintains extensive national and international research collaborations.