8-Star Pharmacist Status is Achievable, Akingbade Inspires Young Colleagues

To some budding pharmacists, the 8-Star Pharmacist model may seem like a utopian ideal rather than an achievable goal, especially for those who have confined themselves to a single aspect of the profession. But the inspiring story of Pharm. Tobilola Akingbade — a First Class graduate of the University of Ibadan who recently earned a Distinction in her Master’s programme at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) — proves that becoming an 8-Star Pharmacist is not only possible, but also attainable with the right mindset.

In this insightful chat with Temitope Obayendo, Akingbade shares the secrets behind her consistent success, highlighting the roles of perseverance, strategic learning, and prayer in building a fulfilling pharmacy career.

Beginning of a purposeful career

Born into an elitist family of Mr Olusoji Titus Akingbade, a former deputy director of Procurement at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in Lagos State, the young Akingbade was a high achiever academically, who represented her school in various academic competitions. Transitioning from high school to higher institution wasn’t a challenge for her, as her vision to become a pharmacist has been crystal clear from childhood.

“ The inspiration came from a dream I had as a child” she said. “In the dream, I was asked to write my name, and I penned it as “P. Akingbade.. Upon waking up, I made up my mind to become a pharmacist.”

Beyond the dream, she had always admired the prestige and purpose associated with the pharmacy and medical professions. Thus, her conviction eventually shaped her academic path and career goals.

Turning setbacks to setups for success

The scholarly Akingbade, married also to a pharmacist, Opeyemi Peter Adebisi, bagged her Bachelor of Pharmacy degree with First Class Honors from the premier University of Ibadan (UI) in March 2020 and recently completed her Master’s degree from North Carolina Central University (NCCU) on 10, May 2025. She reveals how the road to excellence is usually fraught with myriads of trials, which are convertible to stepping stones to success.

“Blazing the trail with a First Class was not without its challenges”, she shares. “In my third year, I blanked out during an exam and scored 47 in a course with a 50 per cent pass mark. I had to resit the exam and came out with a 91 per cent – the highest score ever recorded in that department for a resit. That experience taught me that setbacks can become setups for impact. I took joy in encouraging younger colleagues that had a similar issue in school.”.

Secrets to an excellent career

“If there’s any ‘secret’, I would say, it’s a combination of consistent effort, strategic learning, and prayer,” Akingbade discloses. She advises students to find and commit to a study style that works for them. “These strategies helped me graduate with First Class Honors and a distinction in Social and Administrative Pharmacy from the University of Ibadan.”

She excitedly remarks on how “graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 CGPA from North Carolina Central University (NCCU)” has been an incredibly fulfilling milestone, attributing the achievement to the grace of God, the unwavering support of her family, NCCU Graduate School, and a steadfast personal commitment to excellence. “My husband and I often say, we win consistently”—a mantra that has fueled her drive throughout the journey. “I approached every assignment, presentation, quiz, and exam with deliberate focus and excellence. During my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), I earned a Project Management certification from the UK Safety, Health and Management Academy. This training equipped me with practical skills in goal setting and time management, which have been instrumental in helping me stay organised and effectively balance research and academic commitments in graduate school.”

Findings from research works

Asked about lessons gleaned from her various studies, she reverts thus, “my research journey formally began during my undergraduate years under the mentorship of Dr Oladapo Adetunji in the Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Ibadan. That early experience led to my first co-authored publication and sparked my deep research interest. After completing my NYSC, I enrolled in the Fundamentals of Global Health Research course offered by the University of Washington, which further deepened my curiosity and capacity for research. During my master’s programme in the United States, I focused on biomarker discovery for neurodegenerative diseases. One of my key projects involved investigating biological fluid biomarkers for differentiating Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) subtypes. I also conducted a review study on this topic, which I presented in 2024 at the International Research Conference on Neurodegenerative Diseases (IRCND). I was honored with the Young Investigator Award by the Global Association for the Study of Neurodegenerative Diseases (GASND) for this work.”

She continued, “In 2025, I was selected as a speaker nominee at the DCNN & ADRC Research Symposium on Advancing Brain Health, held at Duke University Medical Campus. There, I presented my recent work on novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of Limbic-Predominant Age-Related TDP-43 Encephalopathy (LATE). Under the mentorship of my Principal Investigator, our team identified a promising biomarker capable of distinguishing Stage 3 LATE patients from both cognitively normal individuals and those with Alzheimer’s disease.

“Beyond the laboratory, my research journey has extended into scientific communication and leadership. I currently serve as an editorial board member for the Greener Journal of Biomedical & Health Sciences (GJBHS), Greener Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacology (GJPP), and Greener Journal of Biological Sciences (GJBS). Additionally, I contribute as an editor for Women in Neuroscience, Nigeria, a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices and visibility of women in the field of neuroscience.”

Admonition to young pharmacists on 8-Star model

The 8-Star pharmacist model is an improvement on the traditional 7-Star model of the World Health Organisation(WHO) which includes an additional role of researcher to the existing roles of caregiver, decision-maker, communicator, manager, lifelong learner, teacher, and leader. Passionate about how pharmacy students and fresh pharmacists can emerge as 8-Star pharmacists, the multifaceted Akingbade explains how her experiences qualify her for the role. Her practice spans hospital and community pharmacy, including leadership roles as Chief Intern Pharmacist at the State Specialist Hospital in Osogbo in 2021 and as Chief Pharmacist during the NYSC Batch A Orientation Camp in Anambra State in 2022. She’s currently expanding the role of pharmacists through meaningful contributions to translational and neuroscience research.

To younger pharmacists, she advises “remain consistent, stay open to mentorship, and pursue excellence with intention. Actively seek opportunities that will elevate both your personal growth and the profession, creating a lasting impact along the way.” Above all, Akingbade expresses profound  gratitude to God Almighty, her wonderful family, and mentors  for her incredible journey.

Recognitions and awards

Indeed, the smart Akingbade has been honoured with several recognitions. She was nominated as a Presidential Member of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), the largest leadership honour society in the U.S. She also received an Academic Excellence Award from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at NCCU during the 76th Honors Convocation for Academic Achievement in April 2025. Additionally, she was appointed as a judge for the Global Undergraduate Awards (UA) 2025 in the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences category—representing the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE), NCCU. The UA is the world’s largest undergraduate academic awards programme. Within her professional circle, she was emotionally moved to receive congratulatory remarks from distinguished leaders in the Pharmacy profession, including Pharmacist Michael Ayodeji Omoniyi, chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Osun State Chapter, and Dr Moteehat Olu-Lawal, director of Pharmaceutical Services at the Hospital Management Board, Osun State, on the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) platform.