Bosede Bukola Afolabi: A Trailblazer in Maternal and Reproductive Health
Bosede Bukola Afolabi: A Trailblazer in Maternal and Reproductive Health
Profile
Bosede Bukola Afolabi, a distinguished UK-born Nigerian gynecologist, is a professor and the Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the College of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos, Nigeria. She is the founder and chairperson of the Maternal and Reproductive Health Research Collective (MRHRC), a research and training NGO, and the Director of the Centre for Clinical Trials, Research, and Implementation Science (CCTRIS).
Education and Training
Bosede earned her medical degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in 1992. She later pursued a Doctor of Medicine (DM) at the University of Nottingham, U.K., where she researched plasma volume in normal and sickle cell pregnancies, earning her degree in 2011.
In addition to her medical education, Bosede is a certified medical educator and holds a diploma from the Foundation for the Advancement of International Medical Education and Research, USA. She also completed a Certificate in Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the Harvard T. Chan School of Public Health in 2016.
Career Highlights
Bosede began her career in the U.K., serving as a Senior House Officer (SHO) and Specialist Registrar in several hospitals. She returned to Nigeria in 1998, becoming a Senior Registrar at LUTH in 2000 and a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist in 2002.
At the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Bosede advanced from Lecturer II to Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology by 2016. She first served as Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at LUTH from 2018 to 2021 and resumed this role in August 2022.
She is also a board member of institutions such as the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital and the Kensington Adebukola Adebutu Foundation (KAAF) Laboratory and Maternity Centre. In 2023, she was named President of the Association of Fetomaternal Medicine Specialists of Nigeria (AFEMSON).
Research and Innovations
Bosede’s research focuses on maternal health, particularly sickle cell pregnancies and maternal mortality. She has led groundbreaking studies, including the IVON trial on iron deficiency anemia treatment in pregnancy, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. At the 2023 Goalkeepers event by the Gates Foundation, she presented innovations like a one-off intravenous iron infusion to combat iron deficiency anemia, with the potential to save millions of lives.
She has also contributed to studies on intrauterine growth restriction, preeclampsia, and peripartum cardiomyopathies using artificial intelligence.
Publications and Collaborations
Bosede has authored 116 peer-reviewed publications and supervised numerous postgraduate theses. She has collaborated with leading international researchers and institutions, including Harvard, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and the Karolinska Institute.
As an editor, she has contributed to the Journal of the West African College of Surgeons and continues to play a pivotal role in academic mentoring and examination.
Recognition and Honours
Bosede has received numerous awards, including:
Special Recognition Award for Commitment and Dedication (2021).
Excellence in Research by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Nigeria (2022).
Ojo Memorial Lecturer at SOGON’s 56th Annual Scientific Conference.
She has been featured on platforms such as CNN, BBC, Arise TV, and the World Economic Forum for her transformative work in maternal health.
Legacy
Through her leadership at MRHRC, innovative research, and dedication to improving maternal health, Bosede Bukola Afolabi continues to make significant contributions to global healthcare, championing the health and well-being of women and children.