Chairman

Professor Umaru Shehu, distinguished physician, academic and administrator, is the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN). Professor Shehu's extensive clinical experience in community medicine and chairmanship of the National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (NACA) continue to be of great value to the Board and our country, Nigeria.

Professor Shehu, who was educated at universities of Ibadan and Liverpool, is a distinguished fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College. He was a Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1977-1978. In 1978-1980, he was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and Chairman of Board of Management of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan in 1991-1994. He was also Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of Bayero University, Kano and the University of Lagos between 1993 and 1999.

A one-time President of the Academy of Science and consultant to the World Health Organization, Professor Shehu holds the prestigious national award of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR). A world renowned scholar with many publications to his credit and membership of international and local professional bodies, Professor Shehu is a Professor Emeritus of Community Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.

Member

Barrister Kanu Godwin Agabi, one of Nigeria's foremost legal practitioners, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria. He comes on board of IHVN with very rich and wide experience in the legal profession spanning a period of over 37 years. He is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria since 1997, and a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where he distinguished himself as the Chief Legal Officer for Nigeria.

He specializes in constitutional law, criminal law, administrative, commercial law and practice. Others include electoral law and practice, public and international law and general litigation. KanuAgabi is currently the Principal Partner at Kanu G. Agabi & Associates, a leading law firm in Nigeria, which heads the consortium representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other corporations.

A holder of the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) for his contribution to national building, Kanu Agabi was also a former Minister of Solid Minerals Development.

Member

Dr. Pat. O. Matemilola, medical doctor, researcher and former National Coordinator, Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), is a member of the Board of Directors of Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN).

An inspiring leader and scientist, Dr. Pat has contributed immensely, in the last ten years, to HIV mitigation interventions both nationally and internationally. As National Coordinator of NEPWHAN for nine years, Dr. Pat was actively involved in building the organization through program development and advocacy at various levels. While in NEPWHAN, he also managed several funds and projects such as; Nigerian Organizations Response to AIDS (NORA) project, World Bank Assisted HIV and AIDS Fund (HAFI), Ford Foundation grant for PLWHA mobilization at Community level.

Prior to his stint at NEPWHAN, Dr. Matemilola, a Paediatrician, worked for over 20 years in the Nigerian Army Medical Corps in several capacities such as Commander Garrison, Headquarters Medical Centre and Deputy Commandant/Acting Commandant of Nigerian Army Medical Corps Training School. Dr. Pat has to his credit several awards including, "Outstanding Leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Nigeria" by UNAIDS.

Member

Prof. Aba Sagoe, a renowned Consultant in Hematology and Blood Transfusion is a member of the Board of Directors of Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN).

Prof Sagoe brings into the board an invaluable wealth of experience, having worked in several, administrative, university and government capacities for 45 years. She has also served as a consultant to world organizations such as WHO and UNESCO. She schooled in the United Kingdom and Nigeria and has a PhD in Hematology from the prestigious University of Ibadan.

Prof. Sagoe, who has many publications to her credit, participates as a member, and has held leadership positions in professional bodies including International Society of Blood Transfusion, International Medical Women's Association and Nigerian Society of Hematology and Blood Transfusion. She was instrumental in the completion of the National Blood Transfusion Policy for Nigeria as well as draft legislation for the National Blood Program. She is the Omolafin of Lagos and the Yoloye of Ode-Remu, Ogun State.

Member

Professor William Blattner is a member of the Board of Directors of IHVN. He is involved in developing Nigeria's capacity to implement the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in the country by supporting laboratory and clinical capacity building, training of providers and developing implementation structure to ensure that antiretroviral therapy is administered well to avoid the development of drug resistance.

Also as scientific leader in the Division of Epidemiology and Prevention of the Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, Baltimore MD, Professor Blattner is directly involved in the research activities of the Division's scientists and their science, in mentoring their career development as independent academic investigators, and in building structures to support their research. Division scientists engage in research involving four areas: Operations and Implementation Research; Clinical Epidemiology; Cancer Epidemiology; and Pathogenesis Research. In most cases, these research projects take advantage of the substantial clinical and laboratory infrastructure built through a $240 million PEPFAR investment in IHVN.

Over the years, Professor Blattner has integrated laboratory science into his epidemiological research and this continues to be a major focus, abetted by Dr. Jean Carr's molecular epidemiology expertise and collaborative interactions with the Institute and some scientists outside IHV.

A graduate of Washington University School of Medicine, Professor Blattner – an internationally renowned expert on AIDS and the viral epidemiology of cancer – is a Professor of Medicine; and Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine. He is also Co-founder and Associate Director of the Institute of Human Virology based in Baltimore, USA.

Member

Dr. Patrick Dakum is the Chief of Executive Officer & Project Director of the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN) as well as a member of the Board of Directors of IHVN. He coordinates the interdisciplinary responsibilities of the Institute for effective program output in addition to providing overall management of the Nigerian team in implementing the AIDS Care and Treatment in Nigeria (ACTION) Project.

He also liaises with other US Government partners and the Government of Nigeria partners to ensure the success of the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) ACTION Project in the country. He also coordinates IHVN participation in implementing the Global Fund (GF) & Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) programs as Sub-Recipient to NACA, National Malaria Control Program of the Federal Ministry of Health.

He is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine in the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore. Through the Fogarty-sponsored UM-IHV AITRP research training grant, Dr. Dakum is brokering a research training agenda to build capacity of IHVN and several academic and research partners linked through the PEPFAR program. A former Information and later Health Commissioner in the Government of Plateau State of Nigeria, Dr. Dakum trained as a medical doctor at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in Nigeria and Lagos University Teaching Hospital where he earned a Masters Degree in Public Health. His public health career has spanned through the telecommunication industry (NITEL), multilateral agencies (UNFPA), bilateral agencies implementing partners (AVSC, CEDPA, CIDA) and local NGOs (Help International).

Dr. Dakum, who was also a UNFPA local consultant to the French Embassy and Canadian CIDA on health sector bilateral assistance, loves to play table tennis and is a biblical scholar.

Ex-Officio Member

Mr. Charles Olalekan Mensah is an Ex-Officio member of the Board of Directors of Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria. As the Managing Director/Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Operations, he is responsible for the effective and efficient operations of the Institute including administration, finance, and logistics to support treatment, care and support activities for thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria and other diseases in Nigeria.

Mr. Mensah serves as the link between the Institute (as a business affiliate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore) and the University. In this position, he is responsible for developing short-term and medium-term strategic plans; management of resources; operating budgets and cash flow projections; compliance with all relevant policies and procedures and managing the human resource needs in support of all the University's programs in Nigeria.

Charles Mensah is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He trained at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria and the University of Baltimore, where he earned a Master of Business Administration degree in 2001. He is presently working for his doctorate degree in Public Administration at the University of Baltimore. He loves to play soccer, badminton, table tennis and lawn tennis.