Akin Abayomi

Akin Emmanuel Abayomi is a Nigerian professor who specializes in internal medicine, haematology, environmental health, Biosecurity and biobanking. Abayomi currently serves as Lagos State commissioner for health. He was with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research in Lagos when he was appointed Commissioner by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in 2019. Following the reported index case of COVID-19 in Lagos in March 2020, Abayomi was appointed to lead the response against the virus in the Africa's largest commercial city. On 24 August 2020, he tested positive for COVID-19 and recovered on 31 August 2020.

Education and early career

Abayomi studied medicine at the Royal Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital, University of London. He holds fellowships from both the Royal College of Medicine and Pathology in the United Kingdom and the College of Medicine of South Africa.

Prior to joining the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Abayomi served as Chief Pathologist and Head of the Division of Haematology at the University of Stellenbosch's Faculty of Medical Sciences in Cape Town, South Africa. He has worked across several countries in internal medicine, haematology and biosecurity.

He serves as Chair of the H3Africa Consortium Data and Biospecimen Access Committee and Principal Investigator of the Global Emerging Pathogens Consortium, established during the West African Ebola outbreak to address biosecurity concerns in Africa.

Appointment He was appointed as the Lagos state commissioner for health in 2019 by governor Babajide Sanwolu of Lagos. He previously head a position as the chief pathologist and head of the Division of Haematology at the University of Stellenbosch's Faculty of Medicine Sciences.

Award of Honor President Muhammad Buhari conferred on Professor Akin Abayomi the award of National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) in recognition of his hard work and excellence, particularly in the fight against COVID-19 in Lagos State.