How To Make It: Peace Babalola: Improving Health Of Nigerians Through Research

Professor Chinedum Peace Babalola (nee Anyabuike) is a pharmacist and professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry/Pharmacokinetics, at the University of Ibadan (UI). She has dedicated most of her career in studying drug disposition in order to improve the overall wellbeing of Nigerians.

Babalola and co-authors reported the first pharmacogenetic study in Nigerians (healthy and sickle cell patients). She and co-workers also conducted one of the largest pharmacogenetic/pharmacovigilance studies on sulpha drugs in >1,000 healthy and HIV/AIDs Nigerians.

Her research has indeed paved way, in that it has revealed significant drug-drug interactions between antimalarials and antibiotics with significant reduction in antibiotic levels, which calls for dose adjustment.

In 2011, she led a multinational/interdisciplinary team that won MacArthur Foundation grant (approx. $1 million) to set up Centre for Drug Discovery, Development and Production (CDDDP), at the UI, a first of its kind in Africa, for building capacity for Africans to make their own medicines and improve access to quality medicines.

CDDDP is one of the 11 designated centres of excellence in Africa by NEPAD/AMRH. Currently, CDDDP has a number of medicinal/herbal products ready for NAFDAC registration.

Career and achievements

Babalola obtained B.Pharm, MSc. and PhD. degrees from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife between 1983 and 1997. She completed pre-doctoral fellowship at University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (1994-1995). She completed Postgraduate Diploma in Industrial Pharmacy (IPAT) jointly from Kilimanjaro School of Pharmacy, Tanzania & Purdue University, USA (2012).

She started her academic career in Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, OAU, Ile-Ife in 1985 as a Junior Trainee Fellow, rose to lecturer I and transferred to UI in 1998 as a Senior Lecturer. She was promoted a Reader in 2003 and a Professor in 2006 (first female Pharmacist Professor in UI). She has served as Head of Department and Director of General Studies Programme where she introduced ‘Drugs and Mankind’ as a course component for all undergraduate students. She is as adjunct Professor in College of Medicine and in 2015, UCH Ibadan appointed her as a Specialist/Consultant, making her the first pharmacist to be so appointed in any tertiary hospital in Nigeria.

She is the immediate past and first female Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy, UI (2013-2017). She was appointed the Vice-Chancellor, Chrisland University, Abeokuta in November, 2017.

Babalola is a recipient of over 25 fellowships, awards and grants world over including World Bank/NUC, Canada; DAAD, Germany; Hartford Hospital fellowship, USA; MacArthur Fellowships, USA; TWAS; WHO; UNIDO, NIH etc. She has travelled widely to other nations of the world for her research and as a resource person. She consults for some pharmaceutical industries in the area of drug quality assessment, bioequivalence and clinical trials.

Babalola has received several recognitions.

Professor Babalola is a member of many international/national organisations such ISSX, IATDM-CT, AORTIC, PSN, NAPA, ALPS, SCHAF, IPAN among others.

In 2016, Babalola was selected as one of 10 most influential female scientists in Nigeria. She was also selected as the only African member, Strategy Working Group (SWG), joint Committee of International Council for Science (ICSU) and International Social Science Council (ISSC) in France. Just recently (2018) she was named by Silverbird TV as one of the 16 Prominent Nigerian Women that excel in Science and Research and also received a merit award from Association of Lady Pharmacists (ALPS) of Nigeria due to her achievements and contributions. She won 2018 May & Baker Service Professional award.

She has over 75 publications (peer-reviewed) in reputable outlets. She has taught and mentored many students and has supervised over 50 Masters and PhD projects.

For Chinedum Babalola, there is no dichotomy between the secular and the spiritual. Babalola loves God and devotes all achievements to Him. She loves music and loves to worship God. She is a guest speaker at many religious, secular and empowerment programmes.

Her advice to young medical practitioners is to continue to persevere even in the face of adversity.

For young women in the medical field, Babalola advised that, “In order to understand how to write grant proposals, I urge young women to work on research projects with people who are more experienced than they are. Make grant applications now. Keep trying even if you fail, she stressed

She is married to a very supportive husband and charismatic Minister of God, Venerable Collins Olufemi Babalola of Ibadan Anglican Diocese and the marriage is blessed with three wonderful children.