The Acting Head of the Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (COMUI), Dr. A. B. Onoja, on Thursday, February 26, 2026, led members of the Polio Eradication teams from the Gates Foundation and the World Health Organization (WHO) on a courtesy visit to the Provost of COMUI, Professor T. O. Ogundiran, FAS
The Provost and members of the College Executive Committee were on hand to receive the visitors- Dr. Kathleen Rankin, Senior Program Officer, Polio Global Development at the Gates Foundation as well as representatives from the WHO Country Office, the WHO African Regional Office (AFRO), Congo Brazzaville, and eHealth Africa.
Dr. Onoja stated that the visit was to acknowledge and appreciate the sustained support of the College management, the Gates Foundation, WHO, and other international partners to the Department of Virology. He highlighted key achievements of the Department, including WHO accreditation of the Polio Laboratory’s sequencing capacity in Ibadan. He noted that sequencing results are released promptly to guide programmatic action, thus contributing significantly to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in Nigeria. He added that continued technical and institutional support has further strengthened the Department’s operational efficiency and capacity to deliver high-quality virological services.
Welcoming the delegation, the Provost, Professor T.O. Ogundiran FAS, expressed profound gratitude for the sustained investments that make such high-level research and innovation possible. He reiterated that the College’s core mandates are teaching, training, and research. He affirmed that research is central to academic excellence but remains capital-intensive, thereby necessitating strong donor partnerships. Speaking on the importance of global backing for academic and societal progress, the Provost reinforced that, "Institutions depend largely on donors, and so we appreciate what the Gates Foundation is doing. We are optimistic that this is going to continue."
The Provost also congratulated the former Head of the Department of Virology, Professor Georgina Odaibo, on her appointment as Virology Laboratory and Containment Officer at the WHO Country Office, Abuja, Nigeria. He described her appointment as a reflection of the University of Ibadan’s enduring tradition of excellence, affirming the institution’s leadership and proud heritage.
Dr. Kathleen Rankin and the WHO Representative, Dr. C. Julius, Focal Point for Genomic Polio at the WHO African Regional Office (AFRO), thanked the Provost and the College management for their collaboration and support, particularly during the refurbishment of the WHO Polio Laboratory. Furthermore, as Dr. Kathleen Rankin noted, "the support that we were able to provide for the refurbishment of the polio lab in collaboration with eHealth and WHO has positioned the lab to be able to take on a really primary sequencing function. The vital function that the lab here is providing in terms of a core surveillance function for the polio programme is key and will continue to be for many, many years."
Other dignitaries in the entourage of Dr. Rankin were Dr. A. Aladeshawe, Senior Program Officer at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), Nigeria; Mrs. Chinenyenwa Henshaw, Project Manager, eHealth Africa; Dr. I. A. Hassan, Zonal Coordinator, South West Zone, WHO, Nigeria; Dr. Z. D. Phillip, State Coordinator, WHO, Nigeria; and Dr. Adedayo O. Faneye, Laboratory Coordinator, National Polio Laboratory (NPL), Ibadan.
The Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Professor Oyeronke Odunola, while appreciating the donors, joined the Provost to express optimism for the continuation of the partnership.
In his closing remarks, the Secretary to the College, Mr. A. E. Odedele, commended the donors for their contributions to polio eradication efforts in Nigeria through the Department of Virology, affirming the win-win effect and collective benefit of collaboration.
The visit underscored how collaborative funding and capacity building have successfully transformed the Department of Virology’s operational capabilities. With the technical structure and manpower fully functional, the advancement of cutting-edge research that has placed the University of Ibadan on the global stage will continue to be the focus of the laboratory.
