Prof. (Mrs.) Cecilia Ihuoma Igwilo, West Africa’s first female Professor of Pharmacy, has been honoured with a ‘Distinguished Professor’ award by the University of Lagos, one of the university’s highest honours for excellence.

She was one out of the four recipients decorated with the prestigious annual award as part of activities marking the grand finale of the institution’s 2016 convocation ceremonies, which held recently at the Jelili Omotola Hall (formerly Multipurpose Hall) of the university. The three other recipients of the award include Prof. Babajide Alo, Prof. Olukayode Amund and Prof. Jim Unah.

Igwilo, the former Dean, School of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, is a Professor of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology and fellow of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).

Her research interests include drug delivery systems, pharmaceutical formulation, pharmaceutical manufacturing, toxicological and pharmacological studies. She was among the team of researchers who worked on the anti-sickling medicinal plant extract – Niprisan. With over 60 publications in learned journals, books and monographs, her publication on “the development of suppository bases suitable for use in the tropics” led to the development of a paediatric analgesic, Phardol Suppositories.

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A statement signed by the University of Lagos Registrar and Secretary to Council, Dr. (Mrs.) Taiwo Ipaye, explained that Prof. Igwilo was chosen for the award in “recognition of her contributions in promoting and advancing knowledge in the society through quality research, teaching and mentoring of young scholars.”

Prof. Igwilo, a recipient of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), currently serves as the Chairman of the Education Committee of the National Academy of Pharmacy (NAPHARM) and PSN.

A Fellow of PSN, the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists, and a member of the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria, she is also currently a member of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital Management Board.