Bosede Afolabi

Last updated
Bosede Afolabi
Born
Bosede Bukola Afolabi

July 1970
NationalityNigerian
Education Queen's College, Lagos
Alma mater Obafemi Awolowo University
University of Nottingham
Occupation(s) Consultant Obstetrician, Gynaecologist & Professor
Known forIVON Trial, SPEC-AI Study, Maternal health research
Websitebosedeafolabi.com

Bosede Bukola Afolabi (born 1970) is a Nigerian obstetrician, gynaecologist, academic, and maternal health researcher. She is a professor and a former head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the College of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital. [1] [2] [3] Bosede is widely recognised for her research on maternal anaemia, sickle cell disease in pregnancy, and high-risk obstetric care in sub-saharan Africa. [4] [5] [6] [7] She is the founder and chairperson of the Maternal and Reproductive Health Collective, a nonprofit focused on research, advocacy, training, and also serves as Director at the Centre for Clinical Trials, Research and Implementation Science. [8] [9]

Contents

Early life and education

Bosede was born in London in 1970. She completed her secondary education at Queen's College, Yaba, in Lagos, Nigeria. [10] In 1992, she obtained her medical degree (MBChB) from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. [10] [1] She later pursued a Doctor of Medicine (DM) degree in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, earning the degree 2011 with a research thesis titled Plasma volume in normal and sickle cell pregnancies. [11]

She holds several postgraduate fellowships, including:

In addition, she earned a Diploma in Medical Education from the Foundation for the Advancement of International Medical Education and Research [14] and a Certificate in Biostatistics and Epidemiology from the Harvard T.Chan School of Public Health in Boston, U.S. [12] [15]

Career

Academic and clinical roles

Bosede began her clinical training in the United Kingdom, where she served as a senior house officer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Specialist Registrar in hospitals such as Central Middlesex Hospital and Hull Royal Infirmary, North Yorkshire. She returned to Nigeria in 1998 and became a Senior Registrar in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Lagos University Teaching Hospital in 2000. By 2002, she had risen to the position of Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. [10]

That same year, she joined the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, as a Lecturer II and progressed through the academic ranks to become a full professor in 2016. [1] [5] She served as Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Lagos University Teaching Hospital from 2018 to 2021 and was reappointed to the role in August 2022. [2]

Between 2019 and 2022, Bosede also contributed to academic publishing, first as assistant editor and later as editor-in-chief of the Journal of the West African College of Surgeons. [10] [1]

Leadership

Afolabi holds several roles in national and international organisations. She currently serves as:

Research

Bosede's research centres on maternal medicine, with a particular focus on anaemia in pregnancy, sickle cell disease and high-risk obstetric care. [10] [13] She has authored over 128 peer-reviewed publications and supervised numerous postgraduates theses, including more than 20 masters and PhD dissertations. [13] [19]

She has worked with academic and research institutions globally, including the University of Nottingham, Karolinska Institute, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Harvard T.Chan School of Public Health, Mayo Clinic, Northeastern University, and the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium. [10]

Major trials

Afolabi has led or co-led several clinical trials and research projects focused on improving maternal health outcomes in Nigeria:

She is also the Country Principal Investigator for multiple National Institutes of Health/Fogarty and Tertiary Education Trust Fund-funded projects. [27]

Advocacy and public engagement

A passionate advocate for maternal health, Bosede has been featured in several international media platforms. In 2023, she appeared on CNN African Voices for her work in maternal medicine and efforts to reduce maternal mortality among women with sickle cell disease. [28] [29] [30]

Her advocacy and research have been profiled by CNN, Arise TV, BBC, Daily Trust, The Punch, Quartz Africa, World Economic Forum, and The Guardian Nigeria, amongst others. [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36]

She was also a featured speaker at the 2023 Gates Foundation Goalkeepers event organised by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation during the 78th United Nations General Assembly, where she spoke about lifesaving interventions for maternal anaemia. [37] [38] [39]

Honors and awards

Afolabi's contributions to clinical research and maternal health have earned her numerous accolades, including:

Selected publications

Grants and fellowships

Bosede is the principal investigator on multiple national and international grants. Her work has been funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and Nigeria's Tertiary Education Trust Fund. Her organisation, the Maternal & Reproductive Health Collective, continues to drive evidence-based advocacy, capacity building, and research implementation in Nigeria's reproductive health sector. [43] [44] [45]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Bosede Afolabi". The Conversation. May 29, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Bosede B Afolabi College of Medicine University of Lagos • Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology". ResearchGate . Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  3. "Professor Afolabi Delivers 4th Inaugural Lecture". unilag.edu.ng. May 6, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Afolabi, Bosede B; Oladipo, Olajumoke O; Akanmu, Alani S; Abudu, Olalekan O; Sofola, Olusoga A; Broughton Pipkin, Fiona (July 1, 2016). "Volume regulatory hormones and plasma volume in pregnant women with sickle cell disorder". Journal of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System. 17 (3): 1470320316670444. doi:10.1177/1470320316670444. ISSN   1470-3203. PMC   5843859 . PMID   27678389.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link)
  5. 1 2 3 "Advancing Women's Health and Wellbeing through High-Quality Research and Career Progression ~ Prof. Bosede Afolabi, HOD, Obstetrics and Gynaecology & Director, CCTRIS, University of Lagos". Medical Mirror. 20 March 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  6. "Improving Maternal Health In Nigeria, My Driving Force – Prof. Afolabi". Development Communications Network. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  7. "Iron given to pregnant women intravenously is more effective than iron taken orally". Karolinska Institutet. May 26, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Team - CCTRIS". CCTRIS -. April 27, 2023. Archived from the original on January 14, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  9. 1 2 "About Us - MRHC". January 17, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Bio – Bosede Afolabi". bosedeafolabi.com. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  11. Afolabi, Bosede Bukola (June 2011). Plasma Volume in Normal and Sickle Cell Pregnancy (PDF) (Doctorate thesis). University of Nottingham.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bosede Bukola Afolabi, MBCHB, DM (NOTTS), FRCOG, FWACS, FMCOG, DIP, MAS". onescdvoice.com. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  13. 1 2 3 "My Bibliography | Bosede Afolabi's Bibliography". ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  14. Historical Nigeria Yoruba (3 Dec 2024). "Bosede Bukola Afolabi: A Trailblazer in Maternal and Reproductive Health". Facebook . Retrieved 2025-06-22.
  15. 1 2 "Prof. Bosede Afolabi: Brilliant Mind, Healing Hands in Obstetrics". Dawn Commission. 13 Jul 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  16. 1 2 3 Ajumobi, Kemi (February 9, 2024). "Bosede Afolabi, Director, Clinical Trials, Research and Implementation Science (CCTRIS)". Businessday NG. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  17. "About Us – AFEMSON". afemson.org. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  18. 1 2 "Bosede Afolabi". Business Day. February 9, 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2025 via PressReader.
  19. "Bosede Bukola Afolabi". Scilit. Archived from the original on 2025-06-20. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  20. 1 2 3 Afolabi, Bosede B.; Babah, Ochuwa A.; Adeyemo, Titilope A.; Balogun, Mobolanle; Banke-Thomas, Aduragbemi; Abioye, Ajibola I.; Akinajo, Opeyemi R.; Galadanci, Hadiza S.; Quao, Rachel A.; Adelabu, Hameed; Sam-Agudu, Nadia A.; Adaramoye, Victoria O.; Abubakar, Abdulazeez; Banigbe, Bolanle; Olorunfemi, Gbenga (October 1, 2024). "Intravenous versus oral iron for anaemia among pregnant women in Nigeria (IVON): an open-label, randomised controlled trial". The Lancet Global Health. 12 (10): e1649 –e1659. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(24)00239-0. ISSN   2214-109X. PMC   11420468 . PMID   39304237.
  21. 1 2 IVON-PP (BMJ Open, Aug 2024): A postpartum anemia implementation trial in Nigeria
  22. "Newsletter - CCTRIS". cctris.org. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  23. Adedinsewo, Demilade A.; Onietan, Damilola; Morales-Lara, Andrea Carolina; Moideen Sheriff, Serin; Afolabi, Bosede B.; Kushimo, Oyewole A.; Mbakwem, Amam C.; Ibiyemi, Kehinde F.; Ogunmodede, James Ayodele; Raji, Hadijat Olaide; Ringim, Sadiq H.; Habib, Abdullahi A.; Hamza, Sabiu M.; Ogah, Okechukwu S.; Obajimi, Gbolahan (March 11, 2025). "Contextual challenges in implementing artificial intelligence for healthcare in low-resource environments: insights from the SPEC-AI Nigeria trial". Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. 12. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2025.1516088 . ISSN   2297-055X. PMC   11932990 . PMID   40134980.
  24. 1 2 Afolabi, Bosede Bukola; Babah, Ochuwa Adiketu; Adeyemo, Titilope Adenike; Odukoya, Oluwakemi Ololade; Ezeaka, Chinyere Veronica; Nwaiwu, Obinyo; Oshodi, Yusuf Abisowo; Ogunnaike, Babatunde A (2021). "Low-dose aspirin for preventing intrauterine growth restriction and preeclampsia in sickle cell pregnancy (PIPSICKLE): a randomised controlled trial (study protocol)". BMJ Open. 11 (8): e047949. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047949. PMC   8365818 . PMID   34389570.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link)
  25. "PIPSICKLE | About". PIPSICKLE trial. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  26. Afolabi, Bosede B. (June 16, 2023). "PIPSICKLE TRIAL: The journey so far". The Sickle Cell Bulletin. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  27. "Sygen Pharma - Trusted Health Sciences Organization in Nigeria". Sygen Pharma. January 10, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  28. Duthiers, Vladimir (February 11, 2013). "Nigerian doctor fighting killer blood disease". CNN. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  29. Tutton, Mark (November 6, 2024). 2013: Dr. Bosede Afolabi explains why she chose medicine . Retrieved June 20, 2025 via edition.cnn.com.
  30. Tutton, Mark (January 16, 2025). 2013: Nigerian doctor helps pregnant women . Retrieved June 20, 2025 via edition.cnn.com.
  31. "ObGyn Prof Bose Afolabi of University of Lagos speaks on challenges of childbearing and motherhood". youtube.com. May 4, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  32. Afolabi: Why I chose medicine. February 1, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2025 via edition.cnn.com.
  33. Doctor: Moving home wasn't 'fashionable'. February 1, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2025 via edition.cnn.com.
  34. Arise News (May 4, 2019). ObGyn Prof Bose Afolabi of University of Lagos speaks on challenges of childbearing and motherhood (Video). Retrieved June 20, 2025 via YouTube.
  35. Ndukwe, Ijeoma (September 3, 2018). "In Nigeria, this baby kit bag is saving mother's life". BBC News. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  36. Gates, Bill (July 31, 2023). "For a bright future, invest in Africa's young". Daily Trust. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  37. Unit, UNILAG Communication (September 14, 2023). "Professor Bosede Afolabi to speak at 2023 GoalKeepers Event". University Of Lagos. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  38. 2023 Goalkeepers Report (PDF) (Report). 2023.
  39. Bosede, Afolabi [@Coolgynae] (22 Sep 2023). "I am deeply honored to have had the opportunity to discuss our research in pregnancy and childbirth at @cctris_, especially highlighting the potential of the groundbreaking single 15-minute intravenous (IV) iron infusion for treating anaemia in pregnancy" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  40. @EF_Fellows (24 Jan 2022). "Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Eisenhower Fellow, Bosede Afolabi (Nigeria '14) shares her successes, challenges and motivations #efjourney @Coolgynae https://leadership.ng/improving-maternal-health-in-nigeria-my-driving-force-prof-afolabi/" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  41. "Prof. Bosede Afolabi". www.mentorintroafrica.com. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  42. Akinajo, Opeyemi R.; Babah, Ochuwa A.; Banke-Thomas, Aduragbemi; Beňová, Lenka; Sam-Agudu, Nadia A.; Balogun, Mobolanle R.; Adaramoye, Victoria O.; Galadanci, Hadiza S.; Quao, Rachel A.; Afolabi, Bosede Bukola; Annerstedt, Kristi Sidney (February 13, 2024). "Acceptability of IV iron treatment for iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy in Nigeria: a qualitative study with pregnant women, domestic decision-makers, and health care providers". Reproductive Health. 21 (1): 22. doi: 10.1186/s12978-024-01743-y . ISSN   1742-4755. PMC   10863081 . PMID   38347614.
  43. Aworinde, Tobi (April 4, 2021). "UNILAG gynaecologist wins $2.5m Gates research grant". punchng.com. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  44. "Professor Bosede Afolabi Awarded Prestigious International Research Grant". unilag.edu.ng. March 31, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  45. "Nigerian professor wins $2.5 million Bill Gates grant". Premium Times. Retrieved June 20, 2025.[ dead link ]