The First Female Pharmacist Vice Chancellor in Nigeria, Prof. Mrs Chinedum Peace Babalola, VC Chrisland University has been named among the 16 prominent Nigerian Women that excel in Science and Research.
The announcement was made at the 2018 International Day of Women and Girls in Science which is observed to promote full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls. This day is a reminder that women and girls play a critical role in science and technology communities and their participation should be strengthened.
Professor Chinedum Peace Babalola who was ranked 8th in the list, she is the first female Pharmacist in Nigeria to be inducted as Fellow of Academy of Science
If there is anything that remains unarguably true and crystal clear to all and sundry both within and outside the academic world, it is the record breaking prowess of Prof. Mrs Chinedum Peace Babalola, the Vice Chancellor of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State. Her sojourn so far in the academic world has become a mentoring ladder that young Nigerians will joyfully love to climb.
Prof. Chinedum has indubitably become the cynosure of all eyes in the academic world especially when a genuine reference is made to Pharmacy as a profession. Her penchant for breaking and creating records traverse beyond the imagination of any man. Going by exploits in creating records, one would unarguably come to the conclusion that this woman that possesses different academic armors must have emanated from another world where the language they understand is just to create record.
Prof. Chinedum is an alumna of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife having obtained her B.Pharm, MSc and PhD all from this prestigious university. Her passion for breaking records prompted her to soar beyond the shores of this country in acquiring more sophisticated educational weapons which in reality have fetched the desired results every academic mind dreams of.
Between 1994 and 1995, Prof. Chinedum completed a pre-doctoral fellowship at University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada and proceeded to complete a part-time PGD in Industrial Pharmacy jointly from Kilimanjaro School of Pharmacy, Tanzania & Purdue University, USA in 2012.
The University Don who embarked on her result oriented academic career in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, OAU, Ile Ife in 1985 as a Junior Trainee Fellow climbed a step further by becoming Lecturer 1 where her service was later transferred to the University of Ibadan as a Senior Lecturer in 1998. In 2003, her record breaking prowess in the academic world climbed the podium of diligence and excellence when Prof. Chinedum Peace Bablola was promoted to an Associate Professor before becoming a full Professor in 2006.
Prof. Chinedum is a recipient of several fellowships, awards and grants which cut across the globe, some of these include sponsorships from World Bank/NUC, Canada, DAAD, Germany, Hartford Hospital fellowship, USA, MacArthur fellowships, USA and lots more. The beauty of the academic excellence of this African pride lies in her commitment to ensuring that Africa as a continent becomes the producer of their own medicines. In line with her vision, the University Don perspicuously established the Centre for Drug Discovery, Development and Production, CDDDP from the proceed she made from MacArthur Foundation grant with her team of multinational/interdisciplinary.
Prof. Chinedum known for her firsts in creating records has created so many records which of course have attracted accolades both within and without the academic world. Some of the records set by this rare gem include the first female Pharmacist of the University of Ibadan, the first female Dean faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, the first female Pharmacist to become a Vice Chancellor in Nigeria, the first female Pharmacist in Nigeria inducted fellow, Academy of Science [FAS], the first female Nigerian inducted Fellow, African Academy of Sciences [FAAS].
This uncommon Professor of Pharmacy is a fellow to so many pharmaceutical associations including the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy. To further reward her commitment and hardworking, she was selected as one of ten most influential female scientists in Nigeria in addition to her recognition as the only African member, Strategy Working Group [SWG], joint Committee of International and Social Science Council, ISSC in France.
Inferring from these academic laurels and records of Prof. Mrs Chinedum Peace Babalola, it is to arrive at a convincing conclusion that she is a record breaker genius whom God has created for Nigeria and Africa at large to serve as a major source of inspiration and blessing to the younger generations.
Professor Babalola’s research earned her selection alongside Dr. Adeboye Adejare of the University of the Sciences in Pennsylvania for research on the interaction between compounds and small endogenous compounds as targets for drug action.
According to report, Nigeria women make only 17 percent of all science researchers. However, great and impactful women who were also listed among the 16 prominent Nigerian Women include: Prof. Grace Alele Williams, Prof. Francisca Nneka Okeke, Prof. Deborah Enilo Ajakaiye, Prof. Olabisi Ugbebor, Prof. Ayoka Oluwafunmilayo Adebambo, Prof. Adenike Osofisan, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, Prof. Olubola Babalola, Dr. Rabia Salihu Sa’id, Prof. Lucy Jumeyi Ogbadu, Prof. Sylvia Uzochukwu, Dr. Eucharia Oluchi Nwaichi, Dr. Rosemary Nkemdilim Ogu, Dr. Folasade Olajuyigbe and Dr. Stella Ifeanyi Smith.
