Prof. Ebunoluwa A. Adejuyigbe: Profile of UNIMED’s first female Vice-Chancellor

Professor Ebunoluwa Aderonke Adejuyigbe is a distinguished Nigerian paediatrician, neonatologist, academic scholar, and global health researcher who currently serves as the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo State.

Her appointment was announced in March 2025 by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, making her the third substantive Vice-Chancellor of the institution and the first woman to occupy the position.

Background

Prof. Adejuyigbe hails from Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

She attended Girls High School, Gindiri, in Jos, Plateau State, between 1975 and 1980, where she earned her West African Senior School Certificate.

She proceeded to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU), Ile-Ife, where she earned two degrees. First, she obtained a B.Sc. in Health Sciences (1980–1984), and then a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MB.Ch.B) in 1987.

She completed her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) shortly after.

Her postgraduate training in Paediatrics was undertaken at the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, Lagos, where she specialized in Child Health and Neonatology.

Academic and medical career

Prof. Adejuyigbe began her professional career at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) in Ile-Ife and soon joined the academic staff of OAU.

She rose through the ranks and was promoted to Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health in October 2007.

Over the years, she has served in several academic leadership roles, including:

• Dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, OAU
• Executive Director, OAU Central Office of Research
• Chair, OAUTHC Ethics and Research Committee

She is also a Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist at OAUTHC and a visiting consultant to multiple medical centres across Nigeria.

In 2019, she was elected President of the Nigerian Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, underscoring her prominence in the field.

Global engagement and recognition

Beyond Nigeria, Prof. Adejuyigbe has built an impressive international profile.

She was awarded a Visiting Scholar Fellowship at the prestigious Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

She has also collaborated on key projects with global health institutions such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and World Health Organization (WHO).

She is actively involved in various international committees, including:

• WHO STAGED Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) Working Group
• WHO Guideline Development Committee on skin and oral infections in HIV-infected children and adults
• IPA-IAP Newborn Health and Survival Project Planning Committee

Her efforts have earned her several accolades, including a Fellowship from the International Women’s Forum Leadership Foundation, Washington, D.C.

Leadership in National health policy

Professor Adejuyigbe plays a vital role in shaping child health policies in Nigeria. She currently serves as:

Vice-President, African Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases

Co-Chair, National Child Health Technical Working Committee

Subspecialty Chair of Neonatology, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria

She has also been appointed by the federal government as a member of visitation panels to state-owned tertiary institutions.

Research works

A prolific researcher, Prof. Adejuyigbe has led or participated in multiple large-scale, multi-country research projects, often serving as Principal Investigator. Some of her notable studies include:

• Neonatal Emollient Exploratory Study (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)
• African Neonatal Sepsis Trial (AFRINEST)
• ACTION Trials for newborn health interventions
• Management of Growth Faltering in Early Life Trial
• Immediate Kangaroo Mother Care (IKMC) and related implementation research

She has also contributed to global vaccine research efforts as:

• Chair, Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) for the NACOVID Clinical Trial (COVID-19 treatment in Nigeria)
• Member, DSMB for the DRC-EB-001 Ebola Vaccine Study (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine)

Her research has been widely published in respected local and international journals, including:

• Small and sick newborn care during the COVID-19 pandemic: Global survey and thematic analysis of healthcare providers’ voices
• Clinical and bacteriological profiles of neonatal sepsis in a tertiary hospital in South-West Nigeri (with Temitope O. Obadare et al.)

Professional memberships

Prof. Adejuyigbe is an active member of numerous professional bodies, including:

• Paediatrics Association of Nigeria (PAN)
• Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN)
• National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN)
• Nigerian Academy of Medicine (Fellow)

Personal life

Professor Adejuyigbe is married and blessed with children.

She remains deeply committed to advancing maternal and child health, fostering academic excellence, and mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals in Nigeria and across Africa.

Appointment

On March 7, 2025, Professor Ebunoluwa Aderonke Adejuyigbe was appointed by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the third substantive and first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo State.

She officially assumed office on Wednesday, July 23, succeeding Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, whose tenure concluded on March 9, 2025.