A Nigerian professor, Dr Dimie Ogoina has been named in Time Magazine’s list of 100 most influential people for 2023.
Dr Ogoina, a professor of epidemiology was listed among the 100 most influential people for 2023 for his impact on Mpox containment.
Ogoina made the list under the innovators category in the magazine.
The professor is renowned for sounding the alarm on a new presentation of Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) he foresaw in Nigeria, even though the world wasn’t ready to listen.
Describing Ogoina, Time Magazine said;
“Recognizing the importance and potential implications for global spread, he persisted, documenting the potential for sexual transmission of Mpox and publishing the data in high-impact scientific journals.
“As the global Mpox outbreak unfolded in 2022, Dimie’s insights became critically important to developing better strategies to prevent and control outbreaks.
“Dimie is also a passionate champion for global health equity. He has often made the point that Mpox is not a new disease and that had the world paid attention sooner, we could have avoided a global outbreak.
“It is this drive that has led Dimie to make significant contributions to the field through his advocacy, leadership, and research.”
Time Magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world which came out on Thursday accords recognition to people “for changing the world, regardless of the consequences of their actions”.
Another Nigerian on the Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2023 is president-elect, Bola Tinubu.
According to the magazine, Tinubu’s victory at the February 25 poll contributed his appearance on the list.
