Professor Funmilola Omoya has been appointed Dean of the School of Basic Medical Sciences at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, following her election by the School, the University confirmed. The appointment was approved by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adenike Temidayo Oladiji.

Professor Omoya is a Professor of Microbiology at the University, with particular expertise in malaria control, infectious disease epidemiology and sustainable biological interventions for disease prevention. She built her academic foundation at the Institution, where she earned her Bachelor of Technology, Master of Technology and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Microbiology. She later obtained a Master of Public Health degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, broadening her expertise across microbiology, environmental health, infectious diseases and public health practice.

She joined the University as a Graduate Assistant in 2001 and progressed through the academic ranks before attaining the rank of Professor in 2020. Before she was appointed Dean, she served as the pioneer Head of the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, where the University credited her with providing strategic leadership that established a solid foundation for the Department's growth.

Her record at the University also includes membership of several strategic committees, among them the School of Sciences Intellectual Debate Seminar Committee, the FUTA Radio Airtime Committee, the FUTA Publications Committee and the Examiners' Report Committee of the School of Postgraduate Studies.

Beyond the University, Professor Omoya has served as a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Atmospheric Research, National Space Research and Development Agency, Ayingba, Kogi State, and has acted as an External Examiner for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at several Nigerian universities. She has also worked as an assessor and reviewer for academic programmes, research proposals and scientific journals.

The University noted that Professor Omoya has authored and co authored more than 100 scholarly publications in national and international peer reviewed journals, and has presented findings at conferences across Africa, Europe, Asia and North America, including the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria Pan African Malaria Conference. She holds membership of professional bodies including the American Society for Microbiology, the Nigerian Society for Microbiology, the Biotechnology Society of Nigeria and the Pan African Mosquito Control Association.

She has also supervised numerous undergraduate projects, Master's dissertations and Doctoral theses, with several of her former students now occupying positions in academia, healthcare, research institutes, government agencies and industry.

As Dean, Professor Omoya is expected to provide strategic leadership that strengthens the School's academic programmes, promotes research and fosters collaborations that advance medical education and biomedical sciences at the University.