Professor (Mrs) Chinedum Babalola, vice-chancellor, Chrisland University, Abeokuta, has been selected as one of the recipients of the prestigious African Union Kwame Nkrumah Regional Awards for Scientific Excellence Programme, 2019 Edition.
Characteristically known as ”the woman of the firsts’’, having attained several female first positions in the field of Pharmacy in Nigeria, Babalola is not resting on her oars, as she has just been adjured by the African Union Commission, as one of the winners of the African Regional Awards for Scientific Excellence, being the first of its kind for Pharmacy in Nigeria.
Babalola’s unparalleled record of firsts among lady pharmacists in Nigeria showed that she was the first female professor of Pharmacy at the University of Ibadan; also the first female dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan. She was the first female pharmacist inducted as Fellow, Nigerian Academy of Science – the highest scientific award in Nigeria. Again, she was the first female Nigerian inducted as Fellow, African Academy of Sciences, and the first female pharmacist to become a vice-chancellor of a university in Nigeria.
In a document announcing her nomination, as the winner of the award as sent by the African Union, from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, it was stated that Babalola’s application scaled through the rigorous selection process, as she will be presented with a winning prize of USD20,000, during the awards ceremony at the African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government, which will take place from the 9 to 10 February 2020, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The document reads in part: ‘’The African Union Commission convened a jury meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 9 to 13 December 2019, for the adjudication of the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Continental and Regional Awards for Scientific Excellence Programme 2019 Edition. I am pleased to inform you that after a rigorous evaluation process, your application has been successful and you have been nominated as one of the recipients of this prestigious award. Congratulations to you!
‘In this regard, the African Union Commission is organising an award ceremony to honour you for your outstanding scientific achievement and contribution through scientific research for the socio-economic development of Africa. The ceremony will be held during the African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government, which will take place from the 9th to the 10th of February 2020 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The management and staff of Pharmanews Ltd join her family and associates to wish her hearty congratulations on this feat.