The University of Nigeria Alumni Association (UNAA) has honoured Chinedum Peace Babalola, Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, with an Award for Excellent Performance in the University System, in recognition of her exceptional contributions to academic leadership, pharmaceutical science, and higher education development in Africa.
The award was presented at a ceremony held at the University of Ibadan, by the President of UNAA Ibadan, Gabriel Ojesanmi, following Professor Babalola’s impactful seven-year tenure as Vice-Chancellor of Chrisland University. Presenting the award, Ojesanmi described her as a visionary leader who “goes where there is no path and leaves a trail,” noting that the recognition adds to her growing list of international honours earned over a distinguished career in academia and pharmaceutical leadership.
Professor Babalola’s professional journey has been marked by historic milestones and sustained excellence. At the University of Ibadan, she rose through the academic ranks to become Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, where she demonstrated exceptional administrative and intellectual leadership. Concurrently, she served as Principal Investigator of the Centre for Drug Discovery Development and Production (CDDDP), a pioneering research hub established with support from the MacArthur Foundation and the first of its kind in Africa. The centre remains one of the flagship research institutions within the Faculty of Pharmacy.
Her tenure as Vice-Chancellor of Chrisland University was similarly transformative. Under her leadership, the institution recorded significant infrastructural and academic expansion, securing full programme accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC)—a feat that earned her the distinction of “NUC Par Excellence.”
An erudite scholar of global repute, Professor Babalola has received numerous fellowships and research grants and has served as a visiting scholar at leading institutions both within Nigeria and internationally. Her research output has contributed original drug development data authored by an African scientist to the global scientific community. In 2006, she made history as the first female Professor of Pharmacy at the University of Ibadan and later became the first pharmacist appointed as a specialist adviser and consultant at the University College Hospital Ibadan.
Her academic distinction is further underscored by her induction as a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science and the African Academy of Sciences, reflecting her influence across national and continental scientific communities.
Beyond teaching and research, Professor Babalola has played a significant role in global science policy. As the only African member of the Strategy Working Group that facilitated the merger of the International Council for Science (ICSU), she contributed to shaping international scientific governance. Domestically, she modernised pharmacy education in Nigeria by designing the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum and introducing the White Coat Ceremony at the University of Ibadan.
Prof Babalola is African Union Laureate , she was recognised by Silverbird Television as one of Nigeria’s leading women in science and a recipient of the May & Baker Professional Service Award, Professor Babalola continues to serve as a consultant to the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in bioequivalence studies and clinical trials.
Supported by her husband, Bishop Collins Olufemi Babalola, Professor Babalola’s career stands as a testament to the transformative power of rigorous research, visionary leadership, and sustained commitment to human development—qualities that continue to redefine the trajectory of health and education in Africa.
