Personality of the week is Professor Friday Okonofua

 

He is a great teacher  ...A great man indeed.  Professor Friday Okonofua, MD, PhD, ad eundem FRCOG is a medical doctor and a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Benin. He is a fellow of the West African College of Surgeons, the Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College, the International College of Surgeons, the International Health program at Harvard University, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.  He also has PhD in international Health from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.  He is a Fellow of both the Nigerian Academy of Science (FAS) as well as the New York Academy of Science.
Professor Okonofua began his academic career as lecturer 1 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Obafemi Awolowo University in 1986.  He served as Acting Head of Department between 1987 and 1992, and rose to the post of Professor in 1992. He transferred his services to the University of Benin in 1996, where he has been Head of Department, Dean, Provost, and member of the University’s Governing Council.
He has also been Secretary of the Faculty of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the National Postgraduate College of Nigeria, as well as the Secretary-General of the Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria. Between April 2005 and November 2009, he served as the Executive Director of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), supervising projects management in the 110 member countries of the organization.  He was Honorary Adviser on Health to President Olusegun Obasanjo from July 2006 to May 29, 2007.
Professor Okonofua is a global champion of women’s health, a discipline where he has published more than 200 refereed articles. Several of his publications are in the field of maternal and newborn health, especially in sexual and reproductive health, safe motherhood and adolescent reproductive health.  In recognition of this, he was honored with the Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and with a special award as “champion of women’s health” by the University of California, Berkeley.  He founded the Women’s Health and Action Research Centre, one of Nigeria’s leading NGOs in 1995.  He is the founding editor of the African Journal of Reproductive Health that was adjudged by the National Universities Commission in 2005 as the best Nigerian journal (in all disciplines) that “meets international standards”.  The journal currently has one of the highest citation indexes among all African journals.
He is a recipient of more than 40 research grants, and he is a member of several international organizations and committees including the editorial board of the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, where he has served for more than 12 years. He has attended and presented scientific papers in 100 conferences in up to 40 countries around the world. He is a reviewer to 20 international journals, and a technical consultant to many international agencies including the World Health Organization, the Macarthur Foundation and the Ford Foundation where he currently serves as a policy analyst and grant maker.
Professor Okonofua is a recipient of several honors including Distinguished Alumnus Award of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Special Achievers Award by the Nigerian Television Authority, Distinguished Services Award by the Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, Award of “the most outstanding professor of the people” by the Students Union Government of the University of Benin, and a Chieftaincy award – Efe of Okpella by the Okukpellage of Okpella Kingdom.  He is married with children.
 

Professor Friday Okonofua teaches obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Benin in Benin City, Nigeria, and is a fellow of several international medical institutions including the International Health program at Harvard University and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. A leading advocate for maternal health in developing countries and recipient of more than 40 research grants, Professor Okonofua's teaching, research and service delivery span over 25 years.
Professor Okonofua is a global champion for women's health, a discipline where he has published more than 200 peer-reviewed journal articles and serves as a technical consultant to international agencies including the World Health Organization. In 1995, he founded the Women's Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC), one of Nigeria's leading NGOs and a partner of VSI in our Nigeria program. Professor Okonofua received his medical degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, a doctoral degree in international health and population studies from Karolinska University, and a bachelor of science in health sciences from the then University of Ife.

 Professor Friday Okonofua joins VSI board of directors August16, 2012 Celebrated maternal health advocate Professor Friday Okonofua joins VSI board of directors (ANAHEIM, CA) On August 15, 2012, the VSI Board of Directors appointed Professor Friday E. Okonofua as its newest member. Professor Okonofua currently teaches obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Benin in Benin City, Nigeria, and is a fellow of several international medical institutions including the International Health Program at Harvard University and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. A leading advocate for maternal health in developing countries and recipient of more than 40 research grants, Professor Okonofua's teaching, research and service delivery span over 25 years. Professor Okonofua's contributions to the field of maternal health include more than 200 peer-reviewed journal articles and service as a technical consultant to international agencies including the World Health Organization and the Ford Foundation. In 1995, he founded the Women's Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC), one of Nigeria's leading NGOs. From 2005-2009 Professor Okonofua served as the Executive Director of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). He also served as Honorary Advisor on Health to Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo. In recognition of his dedication to maternal health, in September 2008 he was honored with the Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and was recognized as a Champion of Women's Health by the University of California, Berkeley. Professor Okonofua received his medical degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, a doctoral degree in international health and population studies from Karolinska University in Sweden, and a bachelor of science in health sciences from the then University of Ife. VSI Medical Director Dr. Ndola Prata looks forward to the expertise Professor Okonofua will bring to the organization: "Professor Okonofua is a trailblazer in the field of maternal health and has been a longstanding supporter of VSI's mission and work.

Professor Friday Okonofua graduated as a medical doctor from the Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria in 1978. He is a fellow of the West African College of Surgeons, a fellow of the Nigerian Postgraduate College in Obstetrics and Gynecology, a Fellow of the International College of Surgeons, a Takemi Fellow in International Health of Harvard University, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ad eundem) of the United Kingdom. He obtained a PhD degree in international Health from the prestigious Karolinska University in Stockholm, Sweden (the University that awards Nobel prizes in Medicine) in 2005. Professor Okonofua's University, teaching, research and service delivery span 20 years. In 1986, he was Lecturer I in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the OAU, Ile-Ife. He rose to the rank of Senior Lecturer in 1987, associate professor in 1989, and professor in 1992. However, the University of Benin had also assessed him for professor and announced the result before the OAU. Thus, Professor Okonofua is one of a few Professors assessed for professorship by two different Universities. He transferred to the University of Benin in July 1997. Professor Okonofua has held numerous administrative positions in the University system. At the OAU, he was Acting Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology between 1987 and 1994 and Acting Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences between 1994 and 1995. At UNIBEN, he was Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology (1997-1998), Dean, Faculty of Medicine, 1998, Dean, School of Medicine, 1998-2002, and Provost of the College of Medical Sciences from 2002 to date. He has also been (1) member, Governing Council; (2) Chairman, Ceremonial Committee; (3) Chairman, Parks and Garden Committee; (4) Member, Tenders Board; (5) member, Pensions Board, and (6) Chairman, Endowment Committee of the University. As Chairman of the Parks and Garden Committee of the University, he was responsible for planting the ornamental trees and flowers that now adorn the University and for which the University has received several accolades over these past years. As Provost of a rejuvenated College of Medical Sciences, he provided increased visibility to the College both within the university and externally, and carried out several developmental projects in the College. It is on record that he was responsible for raising the sum of N30 Million Naira on a single day of endowment and fund raising during the 30th anniversary celebration of the College in 2003. In his field of obstetrics and gynecology, Professor Okonofua has provided profound academic leadership. He has been Secretary of the Faculty of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the National Postgraduate College of Nigeria, and Secretary-General of the Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON). In April 2005, he was appointed the Executive Director of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). He was appointed Executive Director of FIGO after a highly competitive interview in London in which 70 obstetricians and gynecologists around the world participated. Indeed, Professor Okonofua was the only African obstetrician and gynecologist who participated in the interview, and yet he emerged the only successful candidate. As the Executive Director of FIGO, he has been responsible for fund-raising and project design and supervision in the 110 member countries of FIGO. To date, he has raised more funds for FIGO that exceed any funds raised for the organization since its inception in 1954. These funds have included funds for projects approved for Nigeria by FIGO on safe motherhood, vesico-vaginal fistula and prevention of unsafe abortion. Professor Okonofua founded the Women's Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC) in 1995 to promote research and service delivery in women's health. WHARC is now recognized as one of the leading NGOs in Nigeria. In May 2005, WHARC opened a new office complex that is now widely acclaimed as one of the biggest office building owed by any indigenous NGO in Nigeria. The array of dignitaries that graced the occasion including the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who was represented by the Minister of Women Affairs, the Edo State Governor and several international guests, testified to the importance and the significance of WHARC within national and international consciousness. WHARC established the African Journal of Reproductive Health (AJRH), recently adjudged by the National Universities Commission (NUC) as the best journal among more than 200 scientific journals in Nigeria. Professor Okonofua is the founding editor of both AJRH and the Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research (JMBR, the official journal of the College of Medical Sciences. Professor Okonofua is a quintessential fundraiser and social mobilizer. As a student at Harvard University, he won the prize for the best student in the proposal writing class in 1991. Indeed, the proposal which he submitted as part fulfillment for that class was later accepted for funding by the Ford Foundation and resulted in his founding of the Women's Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC) in 1994. To date, Professor Okonofua has written and received 37 research grants from international funding organizations, including six research grants which he received between 2007 and this day. Additionally, he has raised substantial funds for diverse organizations through proposal writing and development. Organizations such as WHARC, the Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON), FIGO, Nigerian Partnership for Safe Motherhood (NPSM), Owan Women Empowerment Project (OWEP), which he established in 2001, and the Association of Private Obstetrical Providers (APOP), have benefited immensely from his proposal writing and fund-raising skills. Professor Okonofua has also raised funds for the University of Benin. As Chairman of the Endowment Committee of the University, he raised more than N70 Million in one day of endowment building and fund raising in March 2007. He has also been responsible for sourcing nearly N20 Million from the Edo State Government for specific projects within the University. Professor Okonofua is a member of several international organizations too numerous to mention, including New York Academy of Sciences, Council of Scientific Editors, World Association of Medical Editors, International Society for the Study of Populations, European Andropause and Menopause Society, International Advisory Board of the Macarthur Foundation, International Advisory Board of Gynuity, International Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, among several others. He has been a member of the international editorial board of the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology since 2000, reviewer to 15 international journals, an external examiner to several Universities both at home and abroad, and a technical consultant to many international agencies including the World Health Organization, USAID, Macarthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, etc. Professor Okonofua is a recipient of several honors including first alumnus professor of medicine of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Distinguished Alumnus Award of the Obafemi Awolowo University, international man of the year by the American Biographic Institute, Paul Harries Fellow of Rotary International, Red Alert Award by the Red Cross Society, Special Achievers Award by the Nigerian Television Authority, Distinguished Services Award by the Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, and the Platinum Award by the Students Union Government of the University of Benin as "the most outstanding professor of the people". He has also received commendations from the Governing Council of the University of Benin and successive Vice-Chancellors on account of distinguished and selfless services to the University. In September 2008, he was honored with the Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ad eundem) of the United Kingdom. He was only the only recipient from the developing world out of seven distinguished professors from around the world who were so honored. In his citation, the President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists mentioned "his immense contributions to the promotion of the health and social wellbeing of women", as reason for the award. 

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Professor Okonofua has more than 170 published articles in local and international

Sir you are a blessing to us the young ones...Congratulation sir.