The Nigerian pharmaceutical community and healthcare professionals across the country on February 20 joined in celebrating Professor Cyril Odianose Usifoh, a distinguished pharmacist, scholar, and administrator, as he marked his 65th birthday.

Born in February and often described as a “February son,” Professor Usifoh has, over several decades, earned a reputation as one of Nigeria’s most influential voices in pharmaceutical education, professional leadership, and healthcare advocacy. Widely regarded as a modern-day titan of pharmaceutical science, his career has been defined by a sustained commitment to translating complex medical knowledge into practical, people-centered healthcare solutions.

An outstanding scholar from his formative years, Professor Usifoh graduated as the best student in Pharmacy at the University of Ife, a standard of academic excellence he has consistently upheld throughout his professional journey.

A respected academic and Immediate Past President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Professor Usifoh has consistently advanced the view that professional expertise is a trust held for the common good. Throughout his career, he has emphasized service, ethical practice, and compassion, treating the laboratory and classroom not merely as spaces for innovation, but as platforms for alleviating human suffering.

Observers note that Professor Usifoh’s legacy extends well beyond the prominent offices he has occupied. While many leaders focus on titles and physical structures, his leadership style has been profoundly people-centered—investing in students, colleagues, and younger professionals. To many within the profession, he is more than a former PSN President; he is widely regarded as a mentor and father figure whose humility and empathy reflect enduring cultural values.

His tenure as the 38th President of the PSN—often described by colleagues as an “El Dorado” era—was marked by principled leadership and professional consolidation. During this period, he played a stabilizing role in pharmaceutical policy discourse, strengthened advocacy for local drug production, and promoted excellence across the profession at a time of significant healthcare challenges.

In its goodwill message, CEOAFRICA commended the pharmaceutical community for entrusting its leadership to Professor Usifoh, describing his emergence as a reflection of collective wisdom and shared professional values.

In a birthday message to Nigerians, Professor Usifoh reflected on the meaning of leadership and service, stating:

“Love is not just an emotion; it is sacrifice, discipline, and commitment to what is right—honesty, compassion, respect, and devotion to the common good.”

This philosophy guided his leadership approach, particularly his role in advancing patient-focused pharmacy practice. Under his influence, the institutionalization of the Pharm.D. programme gained momentum, strengthening the capacity of pharmacists to deliver pharmaceutical care at the community level.

Professor Usifoh is a two-term Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Benin, and a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy. Over the years, he has supervised numerous doctoral candidates and authored multiple scientific publications contributing to drug development and therapeutic advancement.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, he is a devoted family man, married to Professor Stella Usifoh, with a family whose members have distinguished themselves in engineering and pharmacy. Colleagues describe this balance of scholarship, leadership, and family life as a defining feature of his character.

As he marks his 65th birthday on February 20, 2026, tributes continue to highlight a life dedicated to building people, strengthening institutions, and serving the nation. Many agree that Professor Usifoh’s greatest achievement lies not in titles held, but in the lives shaped and the standards set for future generations.

The management and staff of CEOAFRICA join the pharmaceutical community in celebrating a man of purpose, integrity, and enduring impact, wishing Professor Cyril Odianose Usifoh many more years of good health and continued service to humanity.