NHEA 2017: Akinsete, Ohuabunwa to be Honoured as Lifetime Achievement Winners


 

Martins Ifijeh

Renowned Haematologist, Prof. Ibironke Akinsete and former Chief Executive Officer, Pfizer, Mr. (Mazi) Sam Ohuabunwa are to be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Awards by organisers of the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award (NHEA 2017) in Lagos on Friday, June 23, 2017.

Speaking on the recognitions, the NHEA Project Director, Dr. Wale Alabi, declares, “We are proud of these Nigerians because of their excellent contributions to good health and wellbeing of the people of this country. They are champions who have distinguished themselves.”

Akinsete, who is also an expert in women’s health, graduated from the University of Lagos, College of Medicine with a specialisation in Haematology and Blood Transfusion. Her academic and professional qualifications include: M.A.C.H.B (Aberdeen, 1963), M.D (Aberdeen, 1972), F.M.C (Path 1978), FWACP (1986) and FAS (2006). Professor of Haematology and Transfusion at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos from 1989 until 2003. She served as Pioneer Chairman of the National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA).

She is a member of the National Medical Association (NMA), British Medical Association, Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (former President), International Society for Haematologist and Blood Transfusion, Nigerian Society of Haematology and Blood Transfusion (Former President), Nigerian Cancer Society (Former President), International Society for Blood Transfusion, African Society for Blood Transfusion, National Expert committee on AIDS, West African college of Physicians and National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.

Ohuabunwa is a pharmacist who joined Pfizer in 1978 as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative (PSR) and rose to become the CEO/Managing Director in 1993. In 1997, he led the Management Buy over (MBO) of Pfizer Inc’s 60 per cent shareholding in the Nigerian subsidiary. The company was then converted to Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc, a medium size R&D based Pharmaceutical manufacturing firm.

He was the CEO for 18 years and voluntarily retired from the Company in 2011, after 33 years of service in the industry. He is a fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN), Fellow of the West African Post-Graduate College of Pharmacists (FPC. Pharm), Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy (FNA. Pharm) also has fellowships of the Nigerian Institute of Management, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and the institute of Management Consultants. He has received several honors but particularly from the Nigerian government as Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) and Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).

In 2016, NHEA honoured Prof. Olu Akinyanju of the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria and Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi of Juli Pharmacy as Lifetime Achievement Awards.

NHEA 2017 which is supported by PharmAccess Foundation will also recognize other organisations and individuals in about 23 award categories.

NHEA is organised by Global Health Project and Resources (GHPR) in collaboration with Anadach Group, USA.