By Joy Onu
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOHSW) has described chemistry as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s healthcare system, as it applauded the conferment of a Fellowship Award on Mrs. Olufowobi-Yusuf Adeola, O.mni, by the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (ICCON).
The honour was formally presented during an investiture ceremony held at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja, where senior officials and professional colleagues gathered to recognise what was described as decades of dedicated service to public health and regulatory advancement.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said chemistry remains foundational to modern health systems. Represented at the event by the Director of Hospital Services, Dr. Gloria Adegoke, the Minister noted that the discipline underpins critical components of healthcare delivery, including drug formulation, quality assurance, toxicology, laboratory diagnostics, and chemical safety regulation.
He stressed that chemistry also plays a vital role in environmental protection, pharmaceutical safety, industrial development, and public health security, describing professional chemists as indispensable to safeguarding national health outcomes.
Dr. Salako commended ICCON for upholding standards and promoting ethical practice within the profession. As a regulatory and professional body, he said, the Institute continues to strengthen professional capacity in a field central to healthcare delivery and environmental safety.
On the recipient, the Minister attributed the fellowship recognition to Mrs. Olufowobi-Yusuf Adeola’s competence, leadership, and sustained contributions to the Ministry’s mandate. He disclosed that the Ministry carefully reviewed the Institute’s recommendations and found her credentials and service record to be outstanding.
According to him, her professional journey reflects dedication to public service, adherence to ethical standards, and a consistent commitment to strengthening regulatory systems and institutional capacity for national development.
In her acceptance remarks, Mrs. Olufowobi-Yusuf Adeola described the fellowship as deeply meaningful, particularly because it was conferred by a body committed to upholding standards and excellence in chemical practice. She pledged to recommit herself to service and professional excellence for the benefit of Nigeria and humanity.
She expressed gratitude to the leadership of ICCON, especially the Registrar, as well as the Honourable Ministers, the Permanent Secretary, and the Management of the Ministry for their support and for providing an enabling environment for professional growth.
Reflecting on her years in public service, she highlighted mentorship, teamwork, and shared responsibility as key to strengthening regulatory and public health systems. She also encouraged colleagues to uphold integrity, promote best practices, mentor younger professionals, and contribute actively to policy development and institutional reforms.
Earlier, ICCON Registrar/CEO, Chemist Jwalshik Wilford, described the ceremony as historic, noting that Fellowship status is reserved for individuals who have made meaningful contributions to the advancement of chemistry in Nigeria.
He expressed confidence that Mrs. Olufowobi-Yusuf Adeola, as Director of the Food and Drugs Services Department, would continue to champion chemical policies that further strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system. He added that when chemistry is effectively integrated into national systems, health challenges are significantly reduced.
Born on February 9, 1969, Mrs. Olufowobi-Yusuf Adeola holds a B.Sc. (Education) in Chemistry, an MBA, and an M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling from Lagos State University. She joined the Federal Ministry of Health in 1993 as a Scientific Officer and rose through the ranks to her current position as Director of the Food and Drugs Services Department.
