Prof. Oyewale Tomori, the University administrator and academician, currently, Vice Chancellor, Redeemer’s University, Ogun State, Nigeria; Researcher and laboratory specialist, served from 1994-2004 as the Regional Virologist and Laboratory Coordinator, World Health Organization, (Africa Region), with wide ranging experience in virology, disease prevention and control, national capacity building and development in the African region.

He is a Doctor of Vet Medicine: (DVM) 1971; Certificate in Immunology 1973; Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Virology) 1976. And also a fellow of: Nigerian Academy of Science (1991), Royal College of Pathologists UK, (1992) Nigerian College of Veterinary Surgeons, (1994).

His selected achievements include:

• Faculty Member, Department of Virology, College of Medicine, Ibadan, Nigeria, involved in research and training, 1971-1994.
• Resuscitated collapsed Department of Virology, orienting activities for national virus disease prevention and control.
• Director of University postgraduate center for medical research and training
• Trained more than 30 graduate students in virology and disease control between 1980 and 1994.
• Played pivotal role in the prevention and control of exotic and emerging diseases: (Lassa fever, yellow fever, Ebola etc) in several African countries- Nigeria, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia etc).
• Africa’s regional virologist/laboratory coordinator and adviser on laboratory development and virus disease control for Africa.
• Established Africa’s regional network of laboratories for poliovirus diagnosis in support of global polio eradication initiative.
• Published over 100 scientific papers on various aspects of virology (public health & laboratory diagnosis, etc).
• 2002 recipient of Nigeria National Order of Merit, country’s highest and prestigious award for academic and intellectual attainment, in outstanding service to national development.  (One of about 50 recipients since award was instituted in 1979). Other awards include US Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service  Certificate for contribution to Lassa Fever Research;  Nigerian Ministry of Science & Technology Merit Award for excellence in medical research.

Past Professional Activities:

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION- AFRICA REGIONAL OFFICE, HARARE, ZIMBABWE – 1994 to 2004

• Establishment of Africa Regional Laboratory Network for the diagnosis of polio and other viral diseases.
• Development and application of training methods and materials to ensure maintenance of accreditable standards in Network laboratories, through proper collection, handling, storage, transport and testing of specimens.
• Monitoring laboratory performance through the use of standardized performance indicators
• Field experience in diagnosis and control of viral hemorrhagic fevers (Ebola, Lassa & YF) in several African countries
• Providing advice and assistance to countries to establish, manage and monitor laboratory service and ensuring the use of laboratory data for instituting appropriate disease preventive and control measures

• Monitoring of vaccines and vaccinated populations and rapid diagnosis of diseases.
• Adviser, National yellow fever vaccination programme & diagnosis of viral hemorrhagic fevers.
• Organization and coordination of training programs for staff of Ministries of Health.

• Sourcing funds from national/international agencies, private organization, etc to maintain research facilities and conduct studies.
• Focal point for yellow fever control activities in Oyo, Imo, Plateau, Bendel, Benue and other states.
• Reorientation of research activities with emphasis on applying acquired skills and knowledge to tackle common public health problems.
• Organization and coordination of training programs for postgraduate medical scientists
• Development and field evaluation of diagnostic reagents

• Development of laboratory diagnostic methods for prevention and control of viral disease epidemics
• Monitoring of vaccines and vaccinated populations and rapid diagnosis of diseases.
• Organization and coordination of training programs for undergraduate medical students.
• Basic and applied research on arthropod transmitted viruses, viral hemorrhagic fevers and enteroviruses.
• Disease prevention and control through disease outbreak and laboratory investigations.