In
recognition of her various outstanding achievements in the current year,
Professor Peace Chinedum Babalola, a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of
Nigeria (PSN) and Vice-Chancellor of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, has been
announced winner of the 2018 Annual May & Baker Professional Service Award
in Pharmacy.

The
Chrisland VC was presented with the award during the opening ceremony of the 91^st
Annual National PSN Conference on 30 October, 2018, held at the International
Conference Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State, and witnessed by several distinguished
pharmacists and guests at the colourful occasion.

Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, announcing Professor Peace
Chinedum Babalola, as the winner, while the Immediate Past President of PSN,
Pharm. Ahmed I Yakasai, presented the May and Baker Award dummy cheque of
N500,000 to her.

The
woman of many firsts, as she is fondly called, Babalola has been credited with
several trail-blazing innovations in the field of pharmacy.  She was the first female professor of pharmacy
at the University of Ibadan. She was 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.
She was the first female Nigerian inducted as Fellow, African Academy of
Sciences. And she is the first female pharmacist to attain the position of
Vice-Chancellor of a university in Nigeria.

Professor Peace Chinedum Babalola and her husband, Rev.
Babalola in a photograph with the May and Baker Award dummy cheque of N500,000.

With
the inclusion of this prestigious award, she has successfully stamped her name
in the league of May & Baker Professional Service Award winners in Nigeria.

Babalola
was also the lead discussant on the topic: 
“From Test Tube to Market: Bridging the Knowledge-Practice Gap” at the 91^st
Annual National PSN conference. The panel discussion, which had Pharm.
(Alh.) Mohammed Y. Budah as chairman, also had other panelists, including:
Pharm. (Prof.) Martins Emeje, National Chairman, NAPA; Pharm. Simon Okechukwu Akpa,
Managing Director, SKG Pharma. Ltd; Dr Fidelis Ayebae, Managing Director,
Fidson Healthcare PLC; Pharm. Nnamdi Okafor, Managing Director, May & Baker
PLC; Pharm. (Prof.) J. O. Akerele, UNIBEN, and 
Mr  Bhushan Akshikar, Managing
Director, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer.

The Registrar and the Bursar, in a photograph with Professor
Peace Chinedum Babalola, shortly after receiving the May and Baker Award.

Past winners of the May
& Baker Professional Service Award in Pharmacy included Pharm. (Lady)
Adaeze Omaliko, managing director of Malix Pharmacy, Onitsha; Professor (Mrs)
Mbang Femi-Oyewo, MFR, former deputy vice-chancellor of Olabisi Onabanjo
University; Pharm. Ifeanyi
Atueyi, managing director of Pharmanews
Limited, Pharm (Mrs) Margaret Obono, a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of
Nigeria (PSN); Prof. Kemi Odukoya, former dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, University
of Lagos; and Pharm. Folashade Lawal, a renowned community pharmacist; and now,
Prof. Peace Chinedum Babalola, Vice-Chancellor of Chrisland University,
Abeokuta.

In a related development,
Professor Babalola has also been decorated with an award of recognition by the Faculty
of Pharmacy University of Ibadan Alumni Association, during the association’s maiden
global reunion, held on Wednesday 31 October, 2018, at the University of
Ibadan.

Hearty congratulations to
our amiable and indefatigable Vice-Chancellor, from all of us at Chrisland
University.