UNIBEN Elevates Usifoh, Osahon to Professorial Positions

pharmacy

The academic pharmacy landscape in Nigeria has recorded yet another feat, as the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin has announced the elevation of erstwhile Dr (Mrs) Stella Usifoh to the position of a Professor; and Dr (Mrs) Penaere T. Osahon, to an Associate Professor, in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice.

In a statement made available to Pharmanewsonline  by the Dean of the Faculty, Professor Azuka Oparah, it was disclosed that the Vice- Chancellor,  Prof. Lilian Salami, announced the promotions in an Emergency A&P meeting held on Friday, 20 January, 2023.

Usifoh holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree (1988) from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, a Master in Health Planning and Management (2000), a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD, 2007) and PhD in Clinical Pharmacy (2015) from the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.

She joined the Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice Department as a Lecturer II in 2009. She was promoted to Lecturer I in 2012, Senior Lecturer in 2015, Associate Professor in 2018 and Professor in 2021. She has served in various committees and in different capacities such as Departmental Examination Officer, the Clinical Coordinator of the Clinical clerkship programme of Pharmacy students and currently the Head of the Department of Clinical Pharmacy. She has supervised many MSc and PhD students. She has published over 78 articles in international and local peer-reviewed journals.   

Prof. (Mrs) Usifoh as a Faculty member at the University of Benin teaches both the undergraduate doctor of Pharmacy and the Pharm. D conversion and postgraduate students in Clinical Pharmacy courses. She is a member of the Pesticide Research group; the Infectious Disease Research Group and the Animal and Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the university. She is currently involved in Pharmacoeconomics, Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmacy Administration and Management with special emphasis on outcomes research, cost-effectiveness and drug utilisation studies.

She is also a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcome Research, International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), National Association of Pharmacist in Academia (NAPA) and Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD).

Prof (Mrs) Stella Usifoh was once a past Chairman of the Nigeria Association of General Practice Pharmacists, The Managing Director and the Superintendent Pharmacist of Cystus Nigeria Limited. She is a devoted Catholic, a member of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal; she was the Parish President of the Confraternity of Christian Mothers [CCM] St Patricks Ugbowo, Archdiocesan President of the CCM, and currently the National Public Relation Officer of CCM.

She is married to Prof. Cyril Usifoh, president of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and they are blessed with children and grandchildren. Her areas of specialisation are Pharmacoeconomics, Public Health, Pharmacy Practice and Management.

On her own part, Dr Osahon, is a very dedicated, hardworking, creative and passionate pharmacist in academia, with a track record of outstanding achievements and excellence in delivering every assignment given.

She is a very accomplished researcher, experienced lecturer, skilful administrator and knowledgeable clinical preceptor. Osaho has published over 30 professional journal articles, conference proceedings and contributed to a book. She has also reviewed several journal manuscripts for different professional Journals, taught courses and supervised projects at the University of Benin, Benin City and West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists.

Dr Osahon holds a PhD, MPharm, PharmD, BPharm degrees from the prestigious University of Benin and a Fellowship (FPCPharm) from the West African Post-graduate College of Pharmacists. She is a Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (MPSN) and has served in different committees. Dr Osahon is also the Faculty of Pharmacy Representative to the OrganiSation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), UNIBEN Chapter.

Osahon’s expertise is in Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance; patient outcomes such as adherence to medications, efficacy, side effects etc. and biostatistics, data collection, data processing and writing of publications.

Prior to joining UNIBEN, Osahon worked in UBTH (Internship), Ideato LGA Health Center (NYSC), Faith Mediplex Hospital and Igbinedion Teaching Hospital, where she was the head of the pharmacy departments. She has also worked in community pharmacy as the superintendent pharmacist.

Osahon is currently on Sabbatical leave at the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria.