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Leadership

Meet the executives and administrators supporting AfriScience Network’s mission across research collaboration, capacity-building, and community partnerships.

Portrait of Dr. Aminu Shittu

Dr. Aminu Shittu

Admin
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A veterinary epidemiologist and academic with strong interests in quantitative epidemiology, farm animal health, and global health. He has trained and worked across Nigeria and Europe, contributed to high-impact research, and supports interdisciplinary collaboration and mentorship within AfriScience Network.

He holds advanced training in international animal health and One Health/epidemiology/biostatistics through Commonwealth-supported programs, and has contributed to applied research spanning bovine tuberculosis surveillance, parasite epidemiology, udder health, and animal welfare analytics. His work has been published in leading journals (including multiple Lancet titles) and he maintains active international collaborations, while also serving as a reviewer for reputable journals across public health and veterinary sciences.

Portrait of Dr. Mary Nnankya

Dr. Mary Nnankya

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A distinguished scientist in biochemical sciences and biotechnology for therapeutics R&D, with decades of international experience across Europe and Africa. She has worked across basic to clinical research, including leading clinical trials, and brings deep scientific leadership to the Network.

With over 30 years of international experience across Europe and Africa, she has worked across the full R&D pipeline, spanning basic, preclinical, and clinical research and has successfully led clinical trials (Phases I/II and II/III). She also serves as Scientific Director at Manov BioteClinica and contributes to scientific leadership and community engagement through professional service, including committee work with the Royal Society of Biology’s Thames Valley regional branch.

Portrait of Prof. Folorunso Fasina

Prof. Folorunso Fasina

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A veterinarian and One Health expert with extensive experience working across Africa and globally, including leadership roles with FAO. His research spans infectious disease epidemiology, health economics, and disease ecology/modelling, with substantial contributions to peer-reviewed publications and technical reports.

He is focused on transboundary and zoonotic diseases, and his work spans infectious disease epidemiology, health economics, and disease ecology/modelling using a One Health approach. With over two decades of contributions in zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance, he has published extensively and contributed to numerous technical reports, while also mentoring postgraduate trainees and supporting global research networks across multiple continents.

Portrait of Prof. Kehinde Soetan

Prof. Kehinde Soetan

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A professor of veterinary biochemistry at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, with expertise in nutritional biochemistry and toxicology. He is a prolific scholar, award recipient, and mentor who contributes strongly to research development and academic capacity-building.

His research focuses on nutritional biochemistry and toxicology, and has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications. He is a Fellow of the College of Veterinary Surgeons, Nigeria (FCVSN), and serves as a consultant at the University of Ibadan’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. He brings deep mentorship, research leadership, and professional credibility to AfriScience Network.

Portrait of Dr. Yahaya Yabo

Dr. Yahaya Yabo

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An early-career cancer researcher with research interest in applying single-cell and spatial transcriptomics to understand the role of tumor microenvironment and therapy resistance in brain tumour development. His work is supported by prestigious awards and competitive research funding.

His work has attracted international recognition and competitive support, including the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions grant, and he contributes strong translational and computational expertise that aligns with AfriScience Network’s collaboration and innovation goals.

Portrait of Dr. Wadzani Dauda Palnam

Dr. Wadzani Dauda Palnam

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A researcher, academic mentor, and life coach at Federal University, Gashua, Nigeria, with an extensive publication record and recognition for research output. He has authored over 100 scholarly publications and was ranked among the top prolific authors in Africa (Agricultural & Biological Sciences) by SciVal/SCOPUS in 2023.

His research spans disease detection, mycotoxicology, agricultural microbiology, genome editing, and bioinformatics, and he contributes actively to global scientific communities through memberships in international societies. He also strengthens research quality through editorial and peer-review service, serving on editorial boards (including journals such as Frontiers in Genome Editing and PLOS ONE) and supporting research development initiatives through leadership roles that foster collaboration and capacity building.

Portrait of Dr. Ismail Odetokun

Dr. Ismail Odetokun

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An associate professor in veterinary public health and preventive medicine with research interests in infectious disease epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, and One Health. He has strong international collaborations and active engagement with global One Health stakeholders.

His research focuses on infectious disease epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, and One Health, supported by extensive international collaborations and a strong publication record. He also engages widely with One Health stakeholders to strengthen regional and global cooperation, and has received competitive awards and grants, including international networking and systems-thinking initiatives toward advancing public health impact and AMR control.