Sodiq Ojuroungbe The outgoing Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Prof. Babatunde Salako, has advised his successor, Prof. John Obafunwa, to prioritise the welfare of the staff of the institution.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had on Monday, appointed Obafunwa as the new DG of NIMR with effect from July 24, 2024. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, stated this in a statement titled “President Tinubu appoints new Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research” in Abuja. According to the statement, Obafunwa succeeds Salako, whose tenure expires on July 23, 2024.
Speaking exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise shortly after the institute organised a send-forth ceremony for him, Salako emphasised the importance of respecting staff, being concerned about their welfare and output, and focusing on innovative research that could inform policy and lead to product development. Citing his experience, he noted that these strategies had worked in the past and could be replicated by his successor. According to him, the new DG must focus on promoting a culture of mutual respect, fairness, and transparency.
He also stressed the need for the incoming DG to be concerned about staff welfare, particularly about promotions and measurable outputs. He added, “Well, I will tell the incoming DG to respect the staff because that’s very important, though respect is mutual. Be concerned about their we.