Dr. Abel Guobadia, PhD

Dr. Abel Guobadia is the Chairman of the board who participates actively in the center's activities during the years. He is also a PhD holder in Physics and a former lecturer in the University of Lagos, and was member of the Governing Council of the University of Benin.

As former Commissioner in the old Bendel State that later metamorphosized into Edo and Delta States with the transformation of the component Edo and Delta States, he was later appointed Nigeria's Ambassador to South Korea after which he was appointed the Chairman of Nigeria's Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) by May 2000. By 11 ^th of May 1999, he graciously accepted to serve as member of WHARC's Board of Trustees and was appointed Chairman of the Board in 2006. With such a person at the heml of affiars in WHARC, it has made every associate, and staff of the center to continue to serve the center with a high level  of commitment and dedication.

Prof. F.E Okonofua

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.

Professor Okonofua functioned as Honorary Adviser on Health to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR between September 2006 and April 29, 2007. In the short period during which he acted as Honorary Adviser, he successfully advocated for a policy of free maternal and child health services with the Federal Government and several States across the country. To date, 20 States have started implementing this policy, which has resulted in increased access to evidence-based health care to a large proportion of under-served women and children in Nigeria. He was also responsible for enunciating a policy of involving midwives in National Youth Service program, as an approach to increase the availability of this cadre of health care personnel for health care delivery in rural locations throughout the country.

Professor Okonofua has more than 170 published articles in local and international scientific journals. He has attended more than 100 local and international conferences, and has traveled to more than 50 different countries. He loves gardening, football and dancing, and is married with children.

He is married to Dr (Mrs.) Belinda Okonofua, and they are blessed with four children.

Other members of the board

Other members of the board include :

• Chief (Mrs) Christiana Fawole, the former chairperson of the Board who is still domiciled in the United Kingdom.
• Lady Winifred Osaru Oynyeonwu FNLA (JP), a patron  to various professional and voluntary organisations,.
• Mrs Marcelina Aisuebeogun who has contributed immensely to the development and implementation of the major activities in WHARC.
• Other trustees includes Professor Obioma Naemeka, Mrs. Amina Sambo.