Pharm. Sola Solarin, president of the Industrial Pharmacy Section (IPS) of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) has added another feather to his cap, as he was newly appointed Fellow of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP).
The global pharmacists body, made the disclosure at its council meeting on 17 September, 2021, as it awarded the Fellowship of the federation to eight pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists from seven different countries.
According to the federation, the purpose of the Fellowship is to recognise individual members of FIP who have exhibited strong leadership internationally and have distinguished themselves in the pharmaceutical sciences and/or practice of pharmacy, with significant contribution to the advancement of the pharmaceutical sciences and/or practice or pharmacy, along their service to the FIP.
Solarin, who is also founder and managing partner, Savante Consulting Limited, a consultancy business, servicing the pharmaceutical industry and other sectors, in providing commercial strategy consultancy, pharmaceutical products regulation, clinical research management and pharmacovigilance, is the second Nigerian to be so honoured with the Fellowship. The first Nigerian to receive the award was Mr Azubuike Okwor, a former president of the African Pharmacists forum.
Born on 8 February 1965, Solarin had his elementary and secondary education in the western part of Nigeria, after which he got admission into the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) to study Pharmacy in 1983. He bagged his Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in 1986. He also has an MBA from the IESE Institute of Graduate Management Education, in Barcelona, Spain.
His career in the pharmaceutical industry started in 1989 with the then Glaxo Nigeria Ltd, as a medical representative. He retired ten years later in 1999 after stints in product development, logistics and site services.
In 2001, he led a four-man team of investors to acquire the assets of a pharmaceutical company in liquidation to form Food and Pharma Nigeria Ltd. He was the chief executive officer of the company for four years.
As a dynamic professional, he managed a pharmaceutical product development and marketing company, named Coriander Resources Limited, between 2004 and 2012. The company developed and successfully introduced into the Nigerian market four prescription medicinal products in the anti-infective, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal categories. Under his watch, the company had competencies in market research, manufacturing processes, product regulation and sales.
Solarin, as a student, was the public relations officer (PRO) of the OAU local chapter of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students (PANS). He was also national chairman of Nigerian Association of Industrial Pharmacists (NAIP) between 2003 and 2005. He was named an eminent person of the association in 2006.
Solarin has been an active member of FIP for over ten years. He served for seven years as vice-president of the Industrial Pharmacy Section within the period, which explains his recent appointment as the president of the IPS. He rolled out the quarterly webinars of the section, which other sections have also adopted.
Solarin, is the author of the book, “The Start-Up Entrepreneur: An Emerging Market Experience.” An avid lover of water sport, he is a keen sailor as a member of the Lagos Yacht Club. He is married with children.
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