FAKOYA, Professor FRANCIS ADELADE

Professor Francis Adelade Fakoya, a distinguished scholar and proven academic of high repute, hails from Ijebu-Imusin in Ogun State, Nigeria.  He is a Professor of Anatomy, Histology, and Cell Biology and Neuroteratologist at St. George’s University School of Medicine, Grenada, W. I.

Born on October 10, 1967, at Ijebu-Imusin, Prof. Fakoya attended Anglican Primary School, Obalende, Lagos, from 1975 to 1974; LEA Primary School, Azare, Bauchi State (1975); LEA Primary School, Toro, Bauchi State from 1976 to 1977; and finally Army Children School, Bauchi, from 1977 to 1978. He attended Government Senior Science Secondary School, Toro, Bauchi State from 1978 to 1983.

In 1984, Professor Fakoya gained admission into the University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and graduated with an MB.ChB in Medicine and Surgery in 1990.  Having been granted Medical Licensure by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria in 1990, that same year he served his internship/residency at Wesley Guild Hospital, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria, and completed it in 1991. During this period, he rotated through Surgery, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Paediatrics.  After his internship, in 1995, he returned to the university for a postgraduate study and received a Master of Science (Human Anatomy) degree in 1999. Between 2000 and 2003, he earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Anatomy and Cell Biology. He went on to obtain the Certificate in Analytical and Quantitative Microscopy at the Marine Biology Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA in 2007.

In the course of his career, Professor Fakoya has held numerous academic and professional appointments. He was a Visiting Research Fellow, at the Department of Neurochemistry, Paul-Flechsig Brain Research Institute, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany in 2001. He has been Professor of Anatomy, Histology, and Cell Biology, Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George’s University, Grenada since 2013 and a Research Fellow, Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation, (WINDREF) from 2007 to date.

He became a Visiting Professor of histology and Cell Biology (2007); Associate Professor of histology and Cell Biology (2007 – 2012); and has been an Adjunct Research Professor, at the School of Veterinary Medicine since 2008. He was a Visiting Senior Lecturer, at the Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria (2004– 2005). He was a Part-time Demonstrator/Prosecutor (1989-1991); Lecturer II (1994-1999); Lecturer I (1999-2005); Senior Lecturer (2005-2007) at the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Professor Francis Fakoya has served in several administrative and leadership positions which include the following:

• Chair, Graduate Affairs Committee, School of Medicine, St. George’s University, Grenada, 2014
• Course Director, Human Anatomy and Physiology for Health Sciences, 2012-2014
• Chair, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), St. George’s University, Grenada, 2009-2012
• Pioneer Acting Director, Institute of Health Research and Postgraduate Training, College of Health Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, 2004 -2005
• Project Director, Laboratory Animal Centre, College of Health Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, 2004-2005
• Program Director, Anatomy Graduate Program (MSc/PhD) Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 2003 -2007
• Lab. Director, Tissue Culture Laboratory, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 2002-2007
• Coordinator, Dissection and Embalming Services Unit, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 1996-2007
• Course Director, Year III Medical and Dental Anatomy Programme, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 1995 -2007
• Federal Government Postgraduate Scholarship for MSc Anatomy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 1996
• International Society for Neurochemistry Travel Award, Berlin, Germany, 1999
• The International Society for Neurochemistry Fellowship, University of Leipzig, Germany, 2001
• International Society for Neurochemistry Fellowship, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China, 2003
• United States Information Service Grant, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Centre Department of Cell Biology, USA, 2003
• International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO) Fellowship, Bamako, Mali, 2005

He has been on the board of various bodies and institutions. He is the Founder of, the Medical Advisory Council, Grenada Birth Registry and Teratological Information System Services; and Chairman of the board of Directors, of Brainol Institute Inc. Grenada. He was a Member, of Grenada’s National Membership of the International Brain Bee Organisation and Member, of the Board of Trustee, Animal Care and Use in Research, Education, and Testing Organisation (ACURET.ORG) in 2012. He served as Treasurer, of the Board of Management, Westmorland School, St. George’s, Grenada, between 2010 and 2012 and has remained a member since 2008.

Professor Francis Fakoya has been the National Coordinator of, the Grenada Brain Bee Challenge, St. George’s, Grenada, from 2008 to date; President, of the Nigerian Community in Grenada (2008 -2010); and Member of, the College Academic Board, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. In addition, he has served as a Member and Leader of various professional societies as listed below:

• Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R) from 2013
• Founder & Principal Animal Care and Use in Research, Education and Testing [ACURET.ORG], from 2013
• Co-Chair: Delphi Panel on Core Syllabus for Embryology and Teratology, International Federation of Association of Anatomists (IFAA), from 2013

• Member, International Society for Developmental Neuroscience, from 2002
• Member, International Society for Neurochemistry, from 1999
• Member, Neuroscience Society of Nigeria, 1998 – 2005
• Editor, Applied Cell Biology Journal, from 2012
• Consulting Editor, West African Journal of Assisted Reproduction, from 2011
• Assistant Editor, Journal of Anatomical Sciences, Official Journal of the Anatomical Society of Nigeria, 2004-2007
• Pioneer Chairman, Jigawa Chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association, 1992
• Nigeria Medical Association, Member, from 1990
• Secretary-General, Ife Medical and Dental Alumni Association, 1997 – 2004

Professor Francis Fakoya has received numerous recognitions by way of awards, fellowships, and grants from various academic institutions and international societies. He was the recipient of the Federal Government Postgraduate Scholarship for MSc. Anatomy in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, (1996), and International Society for Neurochemistry Travel Award in Berlin, Germany (1999).  He was awarded the Fellowship of the International Society for Neurochemistry, University of Leipzig, Germany (2001) and was a Fellow of the International Society for Neurochemistry Fellowship, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China (2003), and a Fellow of the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO), Bamako, Mali (2005). He was sponsored by the United States Information Service Grant, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Centre Department of Cell Biology, USA (2003).

Prof. Francis Fakoya has published over forty (40) scientific scholastic papers in national and International Scientific Journals on his research work on the impact of alcohol on the developing fetal brain in laboratory animals and the toxicity effects of some natural extracts of medicinal plants with anti-malarial, anti-inflammatory and anti-tuberculous effects. He successfully supervised four Master’ degree candidates and co-supervised two Ph.D candidates at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He is still supervising graduate students at St. George’s University, Grenada, and guiding and advising medical students in research, in addition to teaching Human Anatomy, Histology, and Cell Biology in the School of Medicine. He has attended several national and International Workshops and Conferences. He is an invited conference speaker and presenter on Humane Animal Care and Use in Research, Education, and Testing.

He plays badminton, lawn tennis, and table tennis.  He is also interested in Photography and enjoys listening to music. He is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Adebola Omolara Fakoya, a  Technology Management Consultant, and they have three children.