H3Africa Spotlights

Oge is the Study Coordinator of African Breast Cancer Epidemiology; AFBRECANE (PI: Prof. Clement Adedbamowo). The project aims at studying the incidence of breast cancer, the role of different risk factors, incidence and prevalence of molecular subtypes, the role of oncogenic viruses, and the contributions of indigenous African diets to breast cancer care. AFBRECANE is a case-cohort study with enrollments ongoing at 5 sites.
Oge obtained her BNSc (Hons) in Nursing from the University of Nigeria Nsukka and currently rounding off her Masters in Public Health. Her previous reseach experiences includes cervical cancer, HIV/AIDS and lifestyle modifications in Africa populaton. Oge is a passion-driven, dynamic, dedicated, resilient, proactive and intuitive public health practitioner. Her hobbies include: reading, brainstorming, cooking and travelling. You can reach her and interact further via e-mail; gechi012@gmail.com.

Omowunmi Afolabi is a development consultant and researcher with over 10 years’ experience as a consultant and advisor to private organisations, governments and non-governmental organisations for the development and implementation of unique educational and health programs with a focus on the economically disadvantaged communities across Sub-Saharan Africa. Omowunmi has led several multi-disciplinary and cross-functional teams to implement large and comprehensive MDG projects that focuses on water supply, hygiene and sanitation across West Africa.

Omowunmi currently works with the University of Arizona as the National Coordinator for the H3Africa Kidney Disease Research Network, leading the University’s research efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa. She provides project management and clinical monitoring for the NIH funded multi-centre cohort and case control studies in 18 clinical sites across Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroun, Tanzanian and Uganda supervising about 90 health and academic researchers, including medical practitioners and academic professors.

She also leads a community based initiative TEACH (Transforming Education and Championing Health) which is an integrated school health, school feeding, and public pre-primary & primary education project that specifically addresses certain targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3&4.

TEACH has directly benefited over 2,500 public school pupils in more than 10 communities in Nigeria. Omowunmi has received several awards in recognition of her effort towards promoting education and health, including the merit award from the Yobe State Government for community development in 2009.

Omowunmi has successfully participated in over 60 different learning programs organized by the USAID that relates to health and education. She is also a regular facilitator at professional seminars, women and youth empowerment conferences across West Africa.

Ozumba Petronilla Jean is a Program Manager with the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN). Her career at the institute has spanned multiple roles; from master trainer, molecular lab manager to biorepository manager.
A medical laboratory scientist with over 15 years of experience and strong interest in genomics research, she coordinates and provides managerial oversight and supervision of IHVN 3 biorepositories, providing mentoring and capacity building of staff on biobanking techniques, molecular techniques and sample management and tracking.
Ozumba Petronilla Jean was among the pioneer laboratory professionals that conducted molecular assays for the Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) for children of HIV positive mothers, part of Nigerian HIV strategy to Prevent Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS amongst children.
Ozumba Petronilla Jean, joined the H3Africa community as the biorepository manager and coordinator for the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) H3 Africa biorepository (I-HAB) initiative (PI: Prof. Abimiku). In this capacity her role has expanded to include coordination and managerial oversight of IHVN and I-HAB biorepository activities to ensure that bio-specimen submitted for deposit and provided to H3A Investigators are ethically collected, well processed, adequately stored, and quality controlled for genomic and translational research. She has co-authored three publications. Outside her role at IHVN, Ozumba Petronilla Jean is an avid cook and loves to dance.