PROFESSOR SIMISOLA OLUWATOYIN AKINTOLA
Professor Simisola Oluwatoyin Akintola was born in Ibadan and received her early education at Maryhill Convent School, Ibadan and her secondary school Education at St Louis Grammar School, Ibadan, before proceeding to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) where she obtained her LL.B (Hons) degree in 1987. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 and subsequently earned her Master of Laws (LL.M) degree in 1991 from the University of Ife and a specialised Master of Laws in Global Health Law from Georgetown University Washington DC in 2008. She completed her Ph.D. in Law and Bioethics at the University of Southampton, United Kingdom, in 2016. She is a a certified mediator. She has also embarked on several training courses at home and abroad on IRB
CAREER PROGRESSION
Professor Akintola joined the University of Ibadan in 1991 as a Lecturer in the Department of Private and Business Law (now Department of Private and Property Law), Faculty of Law. She rose through the academic ranks, becoming a Senior Lecturer, Reader, and subsequently Professor. Her distinguished career at the University includes serving as Sub Dean Postgraduate, Acting Head of Department of Private and Business Law, Acting Head of Department of Private and Property Law, Dean of the Faculty of Law, University Orator, Member of the University of Ibadan Governing Council, before her current appointment as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships).
ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE
Professor Akintola's extensive administrative experience spans multiple leadership roles within the University of Ibadan. As Acting Head of both the Department of Private and Business Law and its successor, the Department of Private and Property Law, she demonstrated exceptional leadership in academic administration and departmental development.
Her tenure as Sub-Dean of the Postgraduate School provided her with valuable experience in postgraduate education administration, research supervision, and academic policy implementation. As Dean of the Faculty of Law, she provided exemplary leadership that enhanced the academic reputation of the Faculty and the University, positioning her as an ideal candidate for her current role as Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
Professor Akintola is External Examiner to several universities including Obafemi Awolowo University and Ajayi Crowther University. She also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at Nelson Mandela University, South Africa, demonstrating her international academic standing and collaborative research approach.
RESEARCH EXPERTISE AND SPECIALIZATION**
Professor Akintola's research interests are multidisciplinary, spanning Health Law and Bioethics, Intellectual Property Law, Genomics Research, Data Privacy and Sharing, and Research Ethics. Her work is motivated by the critical need to bridge the gap between technological advancement, medical science, and existing regulatory frameworks. She has consistently focused on the intersection of law, ethics, and emerging technologies, with particular emphasis on their application in resource-limited settings.
Her pioneering research in biobanking, genomics, and data protection has positioned her as a leading authority in these fields within Nigeria and internationally. Professor Akintola's scholarship consistently addresses the peculiarities of the African environment and advocates for context-appropriate solutions to complex legal and ethical challenges.
SUPERVISION AND MENTORSHIP
Professor Akintola has supervised numerous Ph.D. students to successful completion, contributing significantly to the development of the next generation of scholars in law, bioethics, and related interdisciplinary fields. Her mentorship extends beyond the University of Ibadan to students and researchers across Nigeria and internationally.
EDITORIAL AND PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS
Professor Akintola holds several prestigious editorial positions on national and international journals, contributing to the advancement of scholarship in her areas of expertise. Her editorial work has helped shape academic discourse and standards in health law and bioethics across Africa.
COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP AND MEMBERSHIP**
Professor Akintola has chaired several committees and served as a member of innumerable committees at institutional, national, and international levels. Her committee work spans academic, administrative, and policy development areas, reflecting her broad expertise and collaborative approach to institutional development.
Her extensive committee experience has equipped her with a deep understanding of academic governance, policy formulation, and strategic planning processes essential for her current role as Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND CONTRIBUTIONS
Institutional Level:
Professor Akintola has been instrumental in drafting several key policies for the University of Ibadan, including:
• The University's Intellectual Property Policy, Data Protection Policy and Ethics Policy
These policy contributions have significantly enhanced the University's regulatory framework and positioned it as a leader in research governance and intellectual property management.
National Level:
Professor Akintola served as a member of the committee that drafted the National Health Research Ethics Code for Nigeria, a landmark document that established the ethical framework for health research across the country. This contribution has had a far-reaching impact on research practice and participant protection in Nigeria's health sector.
Continental Level:
Professor Akintola serves as a Member of the Task Force of Africa CDC to develop a Policy Framework for Electronic Health Information Exchange (HIE) in Africa. This continental role positions her as a key contributor to Africa's digital health transformation and interoperability initiatives.
She has also made significant contributions to the African Union policy on data governance and protection, demonstrating her leadership in continental policy development.
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION AND COLLABORATIONS**
Professor Akintola is a Fellow of the Fondation Brocher in Switzerland, where she has conducted advanced research on indigenous legal approaches to regulating data sharing in genomic and biobank research. Her international collaborations extend across multiple continents, reflecting her global standing as a scholar and policy expert. She is a CO Investigator on an NIH-funded study, the BridgELSI Program.
She has been actively engaged in interdisciplinary collaboration, serving on Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) where she has contributed her legal expertise to ensure the highest ethical standards and protection of research participants.
PUBLICATIONS AND SCHOLARLY IMPACT**
Professor Akintola is a prolific scholar with extensive publications in peer-reviewed national and international journals.
Her research has consistently provided crucial guidance for policymakers and healthcare professionals navigating complex challenges in the intersection of law, ethics, and technology.
TEACHING AND CAPACITY BUILDING
Professor Akintola has over 10 years of experience teaching bioethics in residency programs, to medical professionals, and within Master's degree programs at the University of Ibadan. Her teaching and commitment to capacity building have significantly enhanced bioethics education in Nigeria and beyond.
CONCLUSION
Professor Simisola Oluwatoyin Akintola's appointment as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships) aligns with the University of Ibadan's commitment to research excellence, innovation, and global engagement. Her unique combination of legal expertise, extensive administrative experience, policy development leadership, international collaborations, and proven track record in institutional governance positions her for the office. Her extensive committee experience, policy development expertise, and continental engagements, international collaborations are expected to significantly assist her in advancing the University's vision of becoming a world-class institution that contributes meaningfully to knowledge creation, innovation, and societal development while maintaining the highest standards of research integrity and ethical conduct.
Professor Akintola's experience in drafting institutional policies, contributing to national frameworks, and shaping continental initiatives uniquely qualifies her to navigate the complex landscape of modern research administration and strategic partnership development in an increasingly interconnected national and global research ecosystem.
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