Professor GBOLAHAN ONI

Gbolahan Oni is currently a Professor of Demography and Social Statistics at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. He is a Public Health and Population Scientist with more than 30 years experience in undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral levels teaching, research, program and project planning and development. He had received high level academic trainings in the fields of mathematics, biostatistics, epidemiology, demography and public health. He had his academic trainings at the following higher institutions – University of Lagos, Nigeria (B.Sc.); University of London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK (M.Sc.); Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA (Ph.D & Post-doctorate) and Princeton University, USA (Post-doctorate). He has been using his skills in the above subject areas to explore various public health, population and social issues. Through rigorous research, he had come up with suggested evidence-based solutions to some of the problems. Many of his high level research works conducted independently or in collaboration with others have led to publications in several peer reviewed scientific journals and monographs. As an experienced teacher, he has successfully mentored scores of students through undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral trainings. He has held senior level positions in academic, research and health programs in institutions in Africa, Middle East and the USA. He has strong administrative, organizational and mentoring skills and ability to work effectively both independently and as a team member. He possesses good leadership and problem solving abilities. Some of his most remarkable professional accomplishments before coming to Covenant University include (i) Leading a team of Nigerian researchers/scientists, to develop a nutrient dense weaning diet, “eko ilera”, for Nigerian infants and young children, made from locally available food items/ingredients and which is also very effective for alleviating complications from diarrheal disease among infants and young children (ii) He was a major player in the creation of sustainable academic partnership programs between Johns Hopkins University USA and eight universities in six African countries including Nigeria, and (iii) He provided administrative and technical leadership in the establishment and implementation of Primary Health Care System in the Saudi Arabia National Guard-Health Affairs (SANG-HA), where he also helped to set up Infectious Diseases Surveillance System. His current goals are to continue to pursue innovative efforts that bring solutions to human health and social problems and to mentor new generation of leaders who will deliver on the promise of better life for all