Baghdad, Iraq; 4 October 2018 –  Newly-appointed UNFPA Representative to Iraq, Dr Oluremi Sogunro, has assumed official duties after presenting his letters of credence in Bagdad to the Head of the Protocol Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Manhal Alsafi, on Thursday 4 October, 2018. 

Dr Sogunro brings more than 35 years of international experience working in the medical and humanitarian sectors.

“I look forward to working with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government to help improve the reproductive health and gender-based violence services provided to women and girls across the country. Together with partners, we will conduct population-related studies in order to guide programming of international and national organisations, as well as policy making in the country,” said Dr Sogunro.

A Nigerian-American national, Dr Sogunro comes with extensive experience at UNFPA, WHO, PLAN International and other international and national health-focused entities. Dr Sogunro holds a Bachelor degree in Health Science, a Master’s degree in Medicine from the University of Ile-Ife, Nigeria, a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of California at Berkley, USA, and a Diploma in Family Planning from Emory University, Georgia, USA.

Most recently, in his capacity as UNFPA Representative in Liberia, Dr Sogunro managed complex operations through his leadership, teamwork, and technical knowledge of refugee-related programming.  Before joining UNFPA in 2012, he worked as the Country Representative of the National Unity and International Co-operation (YGC) in Nigeria, and as the Country Representative at the Conseil Santé at the European Union Immunization project in Nigeria.  

Dr Sogunro takes over from Mr. Ramanathan Balakrishnan, who completed his assignment in Iraq on 30 September 2018

*******

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, delivers a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

For more information or media inquiries please contact: Salwa Moussa, Communications Specialist, smoussa@unfpa.org