Renowned pharmacist, researcher, and immediate past Vice Chancellor of Chrisland University, Prof. (Pharm.) Chinedum Peace Babalola, has emphasized the need for pharmacists to evolve beyond product-focused practice and become value-driven professionals who deliver impactful care across all sectors of healthcare.

Speaking with CEOAFRICA during the just-concluded 98th Annual National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), DABO 2025, where she served as the keynote speaker, Prof. Babalola explained the inspiration behind her unique, sober style of address delivery. She noted that the message she intended to pass required deep reflection rather than the traditional energetic presentation often associated with keynote speeches.

"I am passionate about my profession — pharmacy. Over the years I have looked closely at the profession, so I have an idea of the SWOT: our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats,” she said.

Prof. Babalola noted that the conference theme, “Pharmacy Forward: Building a Future-Ready Workforce for Performance, Collaboration and Transformation,” resonated strongly with her personal observations of the sector.

“Looking at the theme, I see it resonating in many places, in many events. I took a deep dive on my own to assess what the profession is generally. I began to ask myself: Do people really know pharmacists? Can people truly do without us? Can people live their lives without us? There is something that needs to happen — and what should it be?” she said.

She explained that despite the significant strengths of pharmacy as a profession, there are also clear weaknesses that must be addressed. Her keynote, she stressed, was born out of careful meditation, background research, and feedback she gathered from colleagues and stakeholders.

“Despite our strength, we have our weaknesses. I meditated on these things, I did a survey, and I got the feelers. For me, it was a sober reflection, and that was what informed the style of delivery. I felt it was not the time to jump around — it was the time to tell ourselves the truth and formulate actionable plans with timelines,” she emphasized.

According to Prof. Babalola, the pharmacy profession needs a deliberate shift — one that places more emphasis on care, impact, and measurable value rather than product dispensing alone.

“I wanted a solemn message passed to everyone, for us to own the change we desire so that pharmacy and pharmacists will be offering value wherever they are. We must move from giving product to giving care. We should move to giving value — and we should be valued,” she stated.

Her address during DABO 2025 has continued to generate conversations among delegates on the future of pharmacy practice, the need for professional reinvention, and the responsibility of pharmacists to lead transformation within the healthcare system.

Prof. Babalola’s message stands as a call for introspection, strategic action, and renewed commitment to excellence — a challenge she believes every pharmacist must take personally as the profession charts its path forward.