In September 1990, history was made at the 50th World Congress of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), held in Istanbul, Turkey. There, Professor Ebenezer Olanrewaju Ogunlana – renowned pharmaceutical scientist, educator, administrator and advocate – was awarded the prestigious André Bédat Award. It was a momentous occasion, as Ogunlana was being honoured not only as a luminary in pharmacy practice but also as the first African (and the first Black man) to receive the top global honour in Pharmacy.
The award, named after a former FIP president, is reserved for pharmacists whose contributions have significantly advanced the profession globally. Recipients are celebrated for visionary leadership, policy development, and global impact.
In Ogunlana’s case, it was a recognition of decades of phenomenal work across continents—from academia to regulatory science, from hospital pharmacies to policy-making arenas. It was also a deeply personal culmination of a journey that began in the narrow streets of Ita-Faji, Lagos Island, where, as a young fatherless boy, Ogunlana had set out to impact the world.
Significant beginnings
Born on 16 March 1936 in Lafiaji, Lagos, Ogunlana was raised in the Ita-Faji area of Lagos Island. His father died at the age of 30, when he was just over a year old, leaving his young widowed mother, a school teacher, to raise four children alone.
He attended Tinubu Methodist School, Lagos, from 1941 to 1948. In 1949, he gained a full scholarship to Methodist Boys’ High School, Lagos. He completed the six-year programme in 1954, distinguishing himself as a prefect and student leader. Upon graduation, he secured his first job at the Accountant-General’s office in Lagos, working alongside future Nigerian Ambassador to France, Gabriel Olakunle Olusanya.
Just a year later, Ogunlana experienced a health crisis that would alter the course of his life and profoundly impact pharmacy practice in Nigeria and beyond. In 1955, he was admitted to hospital with suspected infectious hepatitis, and cared for by two future medical luminaries: Dr Olikoye Ransome-Kuti and Dr Latunde Odeku.
While recovering, he witnessed a fellow patient suffering from cerebral malaria. Dr Odeku prescribed medication, but the hospital pharmacy had none in stock. After considerable effort, a substitute was eventually obtained.
“That was when I told myself, ‘Why don’t you look into this profession?’” he later recalled. “From what I had seen, the doctor wanted to work and showed he was hardworking. Unfortunately, the end product was not there to complement his work.” It was at that moment Ogunlana resolved to become a pharmacist.
Breaking barriers
Having witnessed the dire consequences of medicine insecurity and determined to be part of the solution, Ogunlana faced his first challenge: he had not studied Physics, then a prerequisite for Pharmacy.
Undeterred, he sought guidance at the British Council, where he was advised to pursue A Levels overseas. With support from his family and the Methodist Mission, he gained admission to Birmingham College of Technology in September 1956.
Ogunlana’s years in the UK were as enriching as they were challenging. Racism was pervasive, and opportunities for Black students were limited. Yet, through diligence and persistence, he won allies, from professors to community leaders. One pivotal moment came when the mayor of Warrington wrote a personal recommendation that helped secure Ogunlana a place at the highly selective University of Nottingham, where he studied Pharmacy from 1960 to 1963.
Just before his graduation, a delegation from the newly established University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife), led by Professor Saburi Biobaku, visited Nottingham. Upon meeting Ogunlana, Biobaku encouraged him to return home and help advance pharmacy education in Nigeria. Ogunlana accepted the call, returning with a degree in Pharmacy and a deep sense of mission.
Advancing pharmacy frontiers
Ogunlana joined the University of Ife as a demonstrator in Pharmacy. In the mid-1960s, he was one of the first Nigerian academics in the department, alongside Dr George Iketubosin and Professor Ayodele Tella. However, the political unrest following the 1966 military coup prompted him to seek further studies abroad.
With support from the African-American Institute and encouragement from Nigerian academic leaders, Ogunlana enrolled at Purdue University in the United States, where he earned his MSc and PhD by 1970.
Upon his return, Ogunlana advanced rapidly through the academic ranks—lecturer (1970–72), senior lecturer (1972–76), and full professor of pharmaceutics by 1976. He later served as head of department, dean of the faculty, and deputy vice-chancellor. Under his leadership, the Faculty of Pharmacy at Ife became a model for pharmaceutical education in West Africa.
His impact, however, extended far beyond academia. Ogunlana helped shape key professional bodies such as the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), the West African Pharmaceutical Federation (WAPF), and the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), which he eventually led.
As president of WAPF (1981–1983), he fostered regional cooperation among pharmacists. From 1994 to 1997, he served as the 13th president of the PSN. During his tenure, he introduced From the President’s Desk, a personal four-page bulletin that became a crucial medium for professional communication and thought leadership within the pharmacy community.
A Legacy of excellence and service
Professor Ogunlana’s life exemplified sustained service to scholarship, industry, and national development. He was a foundation Fellow of the PSN (1977) and the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (FWAPCP) in 1993. He also became a Fellow of the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria and served as a consultant to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
He was invited as a visiting scientist to the Medical Academy of Łódź, Poland (1981), and later to the Faculty of Pharmacy, Biomedical Centre, University of Uppsala, Sweden (1984). He authored and co-authored several books on drug analysis, quality control, and medicinal chemistry, contributing substantially to research and professional standards across Africa.
After retiring from academia in 1988, Ogunlana founded Lapharm Laboratories and Scientific Services Ltd, where he served as managing director. The company became a model for bridging academic knowledge with pharmaceutical manufacturing and regulatory practice.
Honours and final years
Beyond the prestigious André Bédat Award, Ogunlana received numerous other accolades. He was awarded Nigeria’s national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), became a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, and was recognised with chieftaincy titles such as the Fiwajoye of Ife and the Maye of Ketu Land.
Despite his lofty accomplishments, Ogunlana remained remarkably humble and quietly dignified. A devout Christian and lifelong member of the Methodist Church, he served as choir master and was a Knight of Charles Wesley at Methodist Church Tinubu, Lagos. He often credited his success to divine providence, hard work, and the selfless sacrifices of others.
Professor Ebenezer Ogunlana passed away peacefully in 2023 at the age of 87. Still, his over 60 years of contribution to the pharmacy profession—across teaching, research, advocacy, and leadership—continue to resonate in Nigeria and far beyond.
In a tribute, the Nigerian government noted: “The President sympathises with the Ogunlana family and the pharmaceutical community for the painful loss of this lodestar of Pharmacy in Nigeria and beyond.”
,%20held%20in%20Istanbul,%20Turkey.){kind=link}