The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research

Dr. Folahanmi Akinsolu

Dr. Folahanmi Akinsolu is a public health scientist and implementation researcher based at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Nigeria’s apex medical research institute, and in academia at Lead City University, Ibadan. His work sits at the intersection of infectious diseases, health systems strengthening, and community engagement, with a strong focus on HIV, HPV, hepatitis B, neglected tropical diseases, and vaccine-preventable cancers in low-resource African settings.

Over the past decade, Dr. Akinsolu has led and supported studies that use participatory and community-centred methods to co-design solutions with those most affected—adolescents, women, and other marginalized groups. His portfolio includes research on school-based mass drug administration, HPV vaccine acceptability and willingness to pay, community theatre and drama for HPV awareness, and youth-led strategies to sustain HIV prevention. He contributes to several NIH- and ARNTD-supported initiatives, including CARE-HepB, ACCESS-HPV, and SARMAAN, where he works on implementation strategies, community engagement, and evidence synthesis to inform policy and practice.

A core part of his work aligns with AFRICA RI’s mission to build African-led research capacity. Dr. Akinsolu coordinates systematic review and meta-analysis training programs, mentors early-career researchers across Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa, and supports the use of implementation science frameworks to translate evidence into practice. Within AFRICA RI, he brings technical expertise in research methods, community-engaged approaches, and capacity strengthening to advance equitable, locally driven solutions to Africa’s most pressing health challenges.

Prof. Oliver Ezechi

Professor Oliver Ezechi is a physician–scientist with over 30 years of experience providing comprehensive HIV care and advancing women’s health in resource-limited settings across sub-Saharan Africa. His research focuses on infectious diseases of poverty, particularly HIV, HPV, and cervical cancer, and he has led multi-country studies that generate actionable evidence to reduce morbidity and mortality among women, adolescents, and children. As Professor and Director of Research at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Nigeria’s apex medical research institute, he leads a large multidisciplinary team working at the intersection of clinical care, implementation science, and health systems strengthening.
A core pillar of Prof. Ezechi’s work is research capacity building. He has mentored and trained numerous early-career investigators through Fogarty International–supported programs (including the Emory–Nigeria Research Training Program and Building Research and Innovation in Nigeria’s Science), as well as mentorship initiatives led by NIMR, the Federal Ministry of Health, the University of Lagos, and civil society organizations such as the New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society and Positive Action for Treatment Access. He has extensive experience in health research ethics and has contributed to international working groups focused on underrepresented populations.
Within AFRICA RI, Prof. Ezechi brings this unique blend of scientific leadership, implementation experience, and mentorship expertise to strengthen research capacity, foster collaborative learning networks, and support rigorous, equity-focused research that responds to the priorities of African communities.