IFCC Re-elects UNIOSUN Former VC, Professor Okesina Into Executive Board For Another 3 Years

The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) has announced re-election of a former Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University, Professor Adekunle Bashiru Okesina as African Representative in its Executive Board for another three years.

Professor Okesina, who is the Immediate Past President of the African Federation of Clinical Chemistry (AFCC) and a Consultant Chemical Pathologist in the Department of Chemical Pathology and Immunology, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, recorded history in 2017 after his nomination and subsequent election as the first Nigerian and Black African to represent Africa in the IFCC Executive Board.

He had been nominated and elected alongside five other representatives from different regions of the world: including Prof. Abderrazek HEDHILI (Tunisia) – representing Arab Federation of Clinical Biology (AFCB); Dr. Sunil SETHI (Singapore) – representing Asia-Pacific Federation for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine (APFCB): Prof. Sverre SANDBERG (Norway) representing European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM); Dr. Rosa SIERAA-AMOR (Mexico)-representing Latin-American Confederation of Clinical Biochemistry (COLABIOCLI); Dr. Ann GRONOWSKI (USA) – representing North American Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (NAFCC) and Dr. Rolf HINZMANN (Germany) as CORPORATE Representative.

Professor Okesina’s first three-year tenure as member of the Executive Board of IFCC, which began on 1st of January 2018 will end in last month of the current year 2020. The new tenure starts from 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2023.

A news letter issued by IFCC on Monday, March 2, 2020 signed by Professor Graham Beastall (Glasgow UK), the Chairman of the Nominations Committee and forwarded to all members of the organization, maintained that Okesina’s re-election came after a rigorous nomination and campaign process which saw him emerge alongside other scholars including Prof. Abderrazek HEDHILI (Tunisia) – representing Arab Federation of Clinical Biology (AFCB); Dr. Sunil SETHI (Singapore) representing Asia-Pacific Federation for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine (APFCB) and Ana-Maria Simundic (Croatia) representing European Federation of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM).

The letter also announced other elected members into the IFCC Executive Board for 2021-2023 such as the PRESIDENT-elect: Professor Khosrow Adeli (Canada), SECRETARY: Professor David KINNIBURGH (Canada) and TREASURER: Prof. Alexander Haliassos (Greece).

According to the letter, the IFCC Executive Board members elected to serve during period starting from January 2021- to December 2023, would be presented during the IFCC Council meeting to be held on the occasion of the WorldLab Seoul holding later in the year in South Korea.

“On behalf of the Nomination Committee, we would like to thank the candidates who campaigned and took active part in the IFCC electoral process as well as for their steadfast commitment to serving IFCC. We congratulate warmly the newly elected IFCC Regional Federations Representatives,” the letter read in part.

Professor Okesina will, by his re-election, continue to be involved in the promotion of quality health care through development of excellent Laboratory Medicine practices world – wide with emphasize on how Africa can benefit maximally from the activities of IFCC. IFCC participate in the promotion of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine world-wide, providing ‘added value’ of laboratory medicine to health care, enhancing international clinical collaboration and education and management support to developing countries.

Established in July 1952 and membership in more than 90 countries, the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) is a worldwide, non-political organization which works in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO) and other international organizations for promotion of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine across the globe.

The organization is involved in the communication of good laboratory medicine practices and patient safety across different parts of the world.

IFCC roles include global standard settings to support its member countries through scientific and educational endeavour, providing a series of congresses, conferences and focused meetings in order for Laboratory Medicine Specialists to meet and present original findings and best practices of the profession to support patient care.

The organization supports Africa through sponsorship of young scientists to conferences and trainings which will equip them to be better scientists in the near future.

It is also committed to bridging the existing gap between the approach to use of Laboratory medicine as a tool for diagnosis in Africa and other developing countries and the developed parts of the world.