The Nigerian pharmaceutical community has paid glowing tribute to Professor Cyril Odianose Usifoh, former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), as he marks his 65th birthday—an occasion widely described as a celebration of enduring impact, principled leadership, and professional excellence.
In a tribute issued by the Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy (NAPharm) and signed by its President, Lere Baale, the Academy described Professor Usifoh’s life as a testament not merely to longevity, but to a legacy defined by conviction, courage, and unwavering commitment to the integrity of pharmacy practice in Nigeria.
According to NAPharm President , Professor Usifoh’s career—spanning academia, professional advocacy, and institutional leadership—has left an indelible mark on both policy development and human capacity within the profession. As a scholar, he is widely respected for his intellectual depth, academic discipline, and insistence that pharmacy is not merely a vocation, but a public trust that demands competence anchored in strong character.
Across lecture halls, professional platforms, and policy engagements, Professor Usifoh has consistently emphasized ethical practice, regulatory integrity, and professional responsibility. Generations of pharmacists credit his mentorship for shaping not only their technical competence, but also their ethical compass and sense of professional duty.
His tenure as President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria is remembered as a period of firm and principled leadership, marked by clarity of purpose at a time when the profession faced regulatory reforms, distribution challenges, and systemic restructuring. The Academy noted that his leadership during this period was guided not by popularity, but by stewardship—defending standards, insisting on accountability, and speaking truth to power when necessary.
Currently serving as Chairman of the Membership Committee of the Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy, Professor Usifoh continues to provide steady guidance, institutional memory, and strategic insight as the profession navigates evolving healthcare and regulatory landscapes. Throughout his career, he has remained a vocal advocate for professional autonomy, strengthened regulation, ethical pharmacy practice, and the dignity of pharmacists within the broader healthcare ecosystem.
Beyond the titles and offices he has held, many within the profession consider Professor Usifoh’s most enduring contribution to be his investment in the next generation. Across institutions and professional bodies, he has mentored younger pharmacists, encouraging principled engagement, professional courage, and excellence. Observers note that the profession continues to advance because leaders like him refused to compromise its foundational values.
In professional circles, the milestone age of 65 is viewed not as a retreat from relevance, but as a refinement of influence. Colleagues describe this phase of Professor Usifoh’s life as one of expanded advisory wisdom, intergenerational mentorship, strategic reform, and legacy consolidation.
In the tribute, Professor Baale emphasized that authentic leadership is often tested in moments of tension and proven when principles remain non-negotiable. “History remembers not those who drifted with the tide, but those who steadied the ship,” the statement noted.
As he marks his 65th birthday, the pharmacy community celebrates Professor Usifoh’s scholarship, conviction, service, and courage, while offering prayers for his continued good health, renewed strength, and enduring relevance. Many agree that his impact is recorded not only in policy documents and professional resolutions, but in the lives he has shaped and the standards he has helped entrench.
At 65, observers say, Professor Cyril Odianose Usifoh’s legacy is firmly secured—and still unfolding.
