In the last 100 years, a handsome numbers of Nigerian pharmacists have impacted and contributed immensely to the pragmatic growth and development of our society beyond the pharmacy profession. In politics, industry, business, education, publishing, administration, management, banking, telecommunication, economy and other aspects of the society, many Nigerian pharmacists have carved a niche for themselves, raised the bars and achieve great things. However, despite the contributions of many pharmacists to our national growth, some few individuals stand out like a gold fish in the midst of other fishes in the river. Without much delay, I present to you the top ten most influential pharmacists in Nigeria based on influence, impacts and contributions.
- Pharm (Mrs) Bukky George, FPSN: She is the MD/CEO of CasaBella International and Health plus, Nigeria’s first integrative pharmacy and a household name in retail pharmacy in Nigeria. She is a registered Pharmacist with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria. She is indeed a force to reckon with in retail pharmacy in West Africa, with over forty strategically retail outlets across the country and a head office to monitor operations across Nigeria. She earned her B. Pharm in 1992 at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos. She is a lover of book and fashion.
- Pharm. Elijah Mohammed, FPSN: He is the registrar of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria. As a pharmacist, he has worked in various areas of pharmacy practice including community, industrial and consultancy; and has also considerable experience in healthcare publishing where he delved into various issues and personalities. In his consultant capacity, he has been involved in various policy development projects in Nigeria by the Federal Ministry of Health and some of its Agencies. He got his Bachelor in Pharmacy degree in 1984 from the prestigious Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria. In 1997, he had his MBA from the Edo State University, Ekpoma and in 2008 a Master of Science in Health Management from the University of Lagos.
- Pharm. (Prof.) Femi Oyewo Mbang Nkem, FPSN, MFR: She is the Former Deputy Vice–Chancellor, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye and the pioneer Dean Faculty of Pharmacy, OOU, the first female – Pioneer Dean in a Nigerian University. She is the first female Nigerian trained Pharmacist to ‘bag’ her Ph.D. In fact the Ph.D. was accomplished within eighteen (18) months. She is a former Senior Lecturer at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and a professor of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical technology. She is a winner of many international and national awards, including Member of the Federal republic (MFR). She has contributed immensely to knowledge, research and development. She earned her B. Pharm at the University of Ife in 1976.
- Pharm. (Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi, FPSN: He is an icon of pharmacy and a legend in publishing. He is the Publisher and Managing Director of Pharmanews – West Africa’s foremost health journal. He is a seasoned author, who has authored/co-authored two books on fake and counterfeit medicines and ten books on health, purpose, motivation and life. He has attended and presented papers in international pharmaceutical and science editing conferences across the world. He obtained is B. Pharm in 1967 at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University).
- Pharm. Stella Chinyeru Okoli, FPSN, OON: She is the founder and CEO of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, an indigenous group she founded over 3 decades ago, which has remarkably grown to have footprint in Liberia and Sierra Leone. She has received various national and international recognitions, which include Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), Fellow Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Outstanding Service Award, Rotary International 21000, and ECOWAS International Gold Award. She has a B. Pharm (Hons.) degree from Bradford University (1969), M.Sc. Biopharmaceutics, University of London – Chelsea College (1971), and attended Executive Management programs of the Harvard Business School, Boston, USA, for owner-managers 1997-1999
- Pharm. Lere Baale, FPSN: He is CEO of Business School Netherlands, Nigeria, Regional Director of Centre for Management & Organizational Effectiveness – CMOE Inc (USA) for countries in Middle East & Africa Region in partnership with Howes Consulting Group. A Visionary Leader and Passionate Entrepreneur who is leveraging on his rich enterprise architecting, leadership, inspirational and strategic transformation experience within Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Telecoms and Higher Education industries to create and translate visions into reality in order to manage businesses that seek to take advantage of opportunities in developing economies of Africa and Middle East. He obtained his bachelor of Pharmacy, at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, 1981 and master of Business Administration, University of Lagos, Nigeria, 1984.
- Pharm. Sam Ohuabunwa, FPSN, OFR: He is the immediate Past Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group(NESG), Past President, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA),Past Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria(MAN),Ikeja. He is currently the National President of the Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce (NACC). In 1997, he led the Management buy-over of Pfizer Inc shares in Pfizer Products Plc, transforming the resultant company- Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc into a medium-sized Nigerian Research and Development Based Pharmaceutical company. He read Pharmacy in the University of IFE, graduating in 1976 and did Postgraduate training in Business and Organizational Management at the Columbia University, USA and the Lagos Business School.
- Pharm. Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje, FPSN: He is the Chairman of Epic Pharmaceutical and Managing Director of Jay Kay Pharmacy Ltd, a Fellow of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN) and West Africa Postgraduate College of Pharmacist (WAPCP). He is the Director of Vigeo Ltd and the former Chairman Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (Lagos State). He ran for the office of Governor of Lagos state in the 2007 election on the platform of DPA (Democratic People’s Alliance.) and 2015 election under the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He is the Founder, Jimi Agbaje Outreach, a project dedicated to help the less fortunate in the society. He graduated with B. Pharm from the University of Ife in 1978.
- Pharm, Ahmed Ibrahim Yakasai, FPSN: He is the current President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and the Honorary Consul-General of Pakistan in Nigeria. He is the founder of Pharmaplus Nigeria Ltd, Multiplus Consulting, Multiplus Resources Ltd and Nigeria-Pakistan Pharma Investment Forum. He was a two term Commissioner in Kano State. First, he was Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Tourism from 2005 to 2010 and was redeployed to the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning from 2010 to 2011. He is a member of numerous professional, academic and social organizations. At various times, he was 1st Deputy National President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (l997 – 2000), 1st Vice President, Kano Chamber of Commerce, Chairman, Northern League of NGOs, and Secretary General, Kano Union, among others. He attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he bagged a degree in Pharmacy in 1983.
- Pharm, (Prince) Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, FPSN, OFR: He is a former Minister of Health and Social science and the Chairman of Juli Plc (the first indigenous company to be quoted on the Nigerian Stock exchange), a qualified Legal Practitioner and an elder-statesman. He was National President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce. He was Assistant General Manager of Pfizer Nigeria Limited from 1968 to 1969. He is multilingual and has visited over 100 countries of the world. He has won a myriad of international and national award, including OFR (Order of the Federal Republic). He was among the pioneering set of students that gained admission into the University of Ife from 1962-1965.
It is a fact of life that there are many Nigerian pharmacists who have contributed and are contributing immensely to the advancement of the pharmacy profession, the health sector and the Nigerian society as a whole. Above, are my top ten most influential Nigerian pharmacists I admire so much because of their contributions to the society in various sectors of the pharmacy profession and human endeavours. Who are your top ten most influential Nigerian pharmacists? Share your thoughts with us.
Two of the top ten most influential Nigerian pharmacists will be speaking live at the ACHIEVERS FORUM, August 12, 2017 at Fidson Training Centre, Ikorodu Road, Obanikoro, Lagos, Nigeria. Wouldn’t you come and learn, network and become a super achiever like these amazons? Click this link for more details, https://www.sesankareem.com.ng/achievers-forum/
Many thanks for reading.
Researched and written by Sesan Kareem (SK).
SK is a catalyst for GROWTH and an inspirational for personal fulfillment. He is a UK-published, EU-copyrighted and Amazon-marketed Author who has written 6 inspiring books. His writings have gone beyond boarders. SK is one of the international authors of united p.c., United Kingdom. He is being regarded as one of the YOUNG most provocative African speakers of contemporary age. He is also an EXPERT freelance Trainer of London Professional Training Centre (LPTC). A certified Leadership, Management and SME personnel by Global Leadership Training Institute, Nebraska, Omaha, and an alumnus of Daystar Leadership Academy (DLA), Lagos. He holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) and International Award in Delivering Training ( IADT) from Highfield Award Body for Compliance (HABC), United Kingdom.
