Prof. Chinedum Peace Babalola

Professor Chinedum Peace Babalola is a globally acclaimed pharmacist and transformational academic leader, recognized as the first female pharmacist in Nigeria to serve as a Vice-Chancellor. She recently concluded a landmark seven-year tenure (2017–2024) as the Vice-Chancellor of Chrisland University, where she grew the student population from just 55 to over 2,000. Under her leadership, the institution secured full accreditation for 11 academic programs, earning her the title “NUC Par Excellence”.  An expert in pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacokinetics, her research focus lies in drug disposition among Africans to optimize therapeutic outcomes. She is credited with conducting the first pharmacogenetic study in Nigeria and demonstrating how certain antibiotics lose effectiveness when combined with anti-malaria drugs. In 2012, she secured a $950,000 MacArthur Foundation Grant to establish the Centre for Drug Discovery, Development and Production (CDDDP) at the University of Ibadan, the first such center in West Africa.  Throughout her career, Professor Babalola has achieved numerous “firsts,” including being the first female Professor and Dean of Pharmacy at the University of Ibadan and the first female Nigerian fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (FAAS). Her scientific excellence has been recognized with the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Regional Award (2019) and the May & Baker Best Pharmacist in Nigeria Award. Beyond her professional roles, she is a devout Christian, a mentor to young scientists, and is married to Right Reverend Collins Olufemi Babalola.