A graduate of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, Dr. Richard Olumide Daodu, has earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Bioinformatics from Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, emerging as the first doctoral graduate of the institution’s Artificial Intelligence in Public Health programme.
Daodu, who graduated from UNIMED’s Department of Anatomy as a member of the University’s pioneer graduating class, successfully defended his dissertation titled Computational Surveillance and Molecular Analysis of Lassa Virus in Response to Increased Prevalence in Humans and Animals on June 25, 2026.
His research integrates artificial intelligence, bioinformatics and genomics to develop real-time genomic surveillance tools for monitoring Lassa virus evolution, with significant implications for disease outbreak preparedness and public health response in Africa and beyond.
Before proceeding to Germany for his doctoral studies, Daodu obtained a Master’s degree in Molecular Biology and Genomics from Redeemer’s University. He is also the first alumnus of UNIMED to earn a PhD, having previously served as the pioneer President of the University’s Alumni Association and as a member of its Governing Council.
Reacting to the achievement, the Vice-Chancellor of UNIMED, Professor Ebunoluwa Adejuyigbe, described Daodu’s accomplishment as a testament to the University’s commitment to producing globally competitive medical and scientific professionals.
“We are delighted by Dr. Daodu’s outstanding achievement, which underscores the strong academic foundation he received at UNIMED. His pioneering research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and public health is a significant contribution to global health security. He has made the University proud, and we congratulate him while wishing him greater accomplishments in his academic and professional career,” Adejuyigbe said.
Mr. Adedayo Adesida, President, UNIMED Alumni Association also extended the congratulations of the Association to Dr Daodu. He said, “On behalf of the UNIMED Alumni Association, I heartily congratulate Dr. Richard Olumide Daodu on this remarkable milestone of becoming the first UNIMED alumnus to earn a PhD and the pioneer doctoral graduate of the Artificial Intelligence in Public Health programme at Freie Universität Berlin. This achievement is a source of immense pride to the entire alumni community and a reflection of the excellence, resilience and innovative spirit that UNIMED nurtures in its graduates. Dr. Daodu has continued to blaze the trail from his days as a pioneer student and the first President of our Alumni Association, and his groundbreaking research in bioinformatics and artificial intelligence for public health will undoubtedly make a lasting global impact. We celebrate his success and wish him even greater accomplishments in the years ahead.”
