Biography
Itse Olaoye has lived and studied in Nigeria, Malaysia, and the UK. She earned her BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Jos, Nigeria, and an MSc in Public Health from University Putra Malaysia. She completed my PhD in Health Studies at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, London.
She is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA), with great teaching experience in higher education. Prior to working in academia, she contributed to health initiatives across multiple levels, including national, state, local, and health facility levels, while working with organisations including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and UNICEF. Her expertise spans public health, disease epidemiology, healthcare systems, and health policy. She has led and managed programs aimed at strengthening healthcare systems and improving public health outcomes. Her experience also includes data management across these health initiatives, ensuring the effective collection, analysis, and use of health data at all levels of the healthcare system.
Experience, Areas of interest and expertise
Public Health, Communicable and Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, Global Health.
Qualifications 
- PhD Health Studies (2025)
- MSc Public Health (2016)
- BSc Biochemistry (2012)
- Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)
Research Interests
- Communicable and non-communicable disease epidemiology
- Global health
- Co-production of community health
- Implementation and evaluation of lifestyle interventions in underserved groups
Research
- Sensitivity of taste and blood pressure to salt in Nigeria (Ongoing grant program)
- WHO funded Missed Opportunity for Vaccination Survey (MOV) (2020-2022)
Publications
- Olaoye, I., Myrissa, K., Kelaiditi, E., Tsofliou, F. and Brown, N., 2025. Effectiveness of client centred counselling on weight management among Black African women with overweight and obesity in high-income countries: a systematic review. Psychology & Health, pp.1-32.
- Olaoye, I., Ekong, A., Samuel, A., Kelaiditi, E., Myrissa, K., Jacdonmi, T., & Gboyega, F. (2023). Public beliefs and willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccines among adults in South-Western Nigeria: A cross-sectional study. AIMS Public Health, 10(1), 1-15.
- Olaoye I, Akinola F, Myrissa K, et al. Health workers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices on reporting adverse events following immunization (AEFI) in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study. J Health Res. 2023; 37(4):-. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56808/2586-940X.1030
- Adejugbagbe, A., Fatiregun, A., Dosumu, M., Itse, O., Akanbiemu, F., Fagbemi, S., … & Isere, E. (2022). Lessons learnt from decentralization of COVID-19 response in a southwest state of Nigeria. Global Biosecurity, 4(1).
- Olaoye, I., Fatiregun, A. A., Adejugbagbe, A. M., Dosumu, M., Opeyemi, E., Mahmud, Z., … & Samuel, A. (2022). Characterization of Yellow Fever Suspected Cases and Confirmed Outbreaks in a Southwest State, Nigeria, 2021. Journal of Health Sciences & Surveillance System, 10(4), 420-428.
- Olaoye, I., Fatiregun, A., Adewale, A., Modupeola, D., Zubairu, M., Adeleke, D., Jacdonmi, T., Opeyemi, E., Adesokeji, A., Gboyega, F., & Akinpelumi, A. (2022). A report of measles outbreak investigations conducted in two rural communities in a state in southwest Nigeria, 2021. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 9(4), 1643-1649. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20220833
- Olaoye, I., Fatiregun, A.A., Opeyemi, E., Adeleke, D., Jacdonmi, T., Fagbemi, S., Gboyega, F., Samuel A., Akinpelumi, A., Onyibe, R. An epidemiological evaluation of acute flaccid paralysis surveillance performance in Ondo State, Nigeria from 2016 to 2020. Int J Epidemiol Health Sci 2021; 2(12): e23. Doi: 10/51757/IJEHS.2.12.2021.246984.
- Fatiregun AA, Lochlainn LN, Kaboré L, Dosumu M, Isere E, Olaoye I, et al. (2021) Missed opportunities for vaccination among children aged 0–23 months visiting health facilities in a southwest State of Nigeria, December 2019. PLoS ONE 16(8): e0252798. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252798
- Olaoye, I., Fatiregun, A.A., Fagbemi, S., Gboyega, F., Onyibe, R. Epidemiological approach to an outbreak of gastroenteritis in Ondo State, Soutwest of Nigeria. Int J Epidemiol Health Sci 2021; 2(7): e14. Doi: 10/51757/IJEHS.2.7.2021.244239.
- Akerele A, Uba B, Aduloju M, Etamesor S, Umar JA, Adeoye OB, et al. (2021) Improving routine immunization data quality using daily short message system reporting platform: An experience from Nasarawa state, Nigeria. PLoS ONE 16(8): e0255563. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255563
- Jacdonmi, I., Suhanizam M.S., Ismail. B.S., Ayuba. I.Z., Jacdonmi G.R (2016). The role of epidemiological principles in the prevention and control of hypertension: A Review. Scholars Journal of Medical and Applied sciences 2016; 4(3A):632-639
- Jacdonmi, I., Suhanizam M.S., Ismail. B.S., Ayuba. I.Z., Jacdonmi G.R (2016). Determinants of exclusive breastfeeding continuity among mothers
Publications Under Peer Review
- Olaoye, I., Brown, N., Tsofliou, F., Kelaiditi, E., Myrissa, K. (2025). Developing A Theory and Evidence-Based Intervention for Black African Women Using The COM-B Model and Behaviour Change Wheel: BALANCED Programme (under peer review)
- Olaoye, I., Myrissa, K., Tsofliou, F., Kelaiditi, E., Brown, N. (2025). Here, You Do Everything Yourself and When I Think About It, I Just Give Up”: Factors Shaping Dietary Choices of Black African Immigrant Women with Overweight and Obesity from Sub-Saharan Africa living in the UK (under peer review)
- Olaoye, I., Myrissa, K., Brown, N., Tsofliou, F., Amoutzopoulos, B., Page, P., Abraham, S., Ajatta, M., Adekanmbi, T., Kelaiditi, E. (2025). Modification and Validation of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)- Norfolk Food Frequency Questionnaire to Assess Dietary Intake in Black African Women in the UK.
- Zubairu, M., Akin, F., Attah, O., Famokun, G., Mahmud, M., Touray, K.,&Olaoye, I. (2024). A rapid assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on the utilization of hospital services in Ondo State of South Western Nigeria.
International Conferences Attended
- Birdem Amoutzopoulos, Suzanna Abraham, Anila Farooq, Angela Mulligan, Toni Steer, Itse Olaoye, Sara L White, Polly Page (2024). Improving Ethnic Food Representation in UK Dietary Assessment: A Multi-phase Approach to Expanding Intake24’s Food Database. The International Conference on Diet and Activity Methods (ICDAM), 2025
- Olaoye, I., Myrissa, K., Kelaiditi, E., Tsofliou, F., Brown, N. (2024). Effectiveness of Client-Centred Counselling on Weight Management among Black African Women with Overweight and Obesity in High-Income Countries: A Systematic Review. World Congress on Public Health, Nutrition & Epidemiology, UK July 30th, 2024
- Itse Jacdonmi, Muhamad S Suhainizam, Ismail B Suriani, Ayuba I Zoakah, Gbubemi R Jacdonmi (2016). 6th International Public Health Conference Malaysia; Early Initiation of Breastfeeding in Nigeria: Facilitators and Barriers
