Dr Olayiwola is Our Personality for October

pharmacy

Dr Gbola Olayiwola, popularly known as Bassman, is a pharmacist, pharmacologist (with special interest in neuropharmacology) and inventor.

Born in Ibadan on 15 June 1956, Olayiwola was educated at Ayedaade Grammar School, Ikire, Osun State and the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) where he bagged his B. Pharm (Hons.) in 1982.

Due to Olayiwola’s impressive record, he was offered the opportunity of having his internship at the faculty till 1983 when he departed for General Hospital, Abua, Rivers State to commence his mandatory one-year youth service. He soon rose to become head of the pharmacy department at the hospital.

By 1986, Bassman was back again at University of Ife for his MSc. On completion of his master’s degree, he was retained at the dean’s office as the only lecturer in charge of Clinical Pharmacy Programme in 1987.

His MBA programme and Ph.D (Neuropharmacology) were to follow in quick succession at the same institution between 1990 and 2005.

Bassman currently teaches clinical pharmacy at undergraduate level, as well as neuropharmacology to postgraduate students, with whom he carries out most of his researches. So far, he has carried out studies in three main areas: pharmacy practice, general pharmacology and neuropharmacology.

These studies have, over the years, generated data relevant for enhancement of standard of pharmacy practice in Nigeria, in addition to providing information on natural and synthetic materials with potential for the management of CNS disorders.

Bassman is also a board member of Family Health and Development Initiatives (FAHEDI) an outfit that organizes health outreaches for rural dwellers and people with limited access to healthcare. He equally heads the pharmacy unit of the organization.

Basman is actively involved in drives for sponsorship of Obafemi Awolowo University’s Faculty of Pharmacy projects, as he does not believe that indigent students should be made to drop out of school.

A 2002 Fellow of DAAD Research, Bassman is a father and grandfather.