Nigerian pharmacist Seun Omobo emerges first black chairperson of the FIP-YPG

A young Nigerian pharmacist, Seun Omobo, has won a keenly contested election to emerge chairperson of the International Pharmaceutical Federation–Young Pharmacists’ Group (FIP-YPG), making history as the first African to occupy the position.

Seun won the election to chair the FIP-YPG which has been in existence since 2001, during the recently concluded Annual Congress of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) held in Dusseldorf, Germany from 29 September to 3 October 2015.

Omobo works  as a consultant to the World Health Organization (WHO) ; managing the WHO Prequalification of Medicines Programme for Nigeria and neighboring West African countries. In 2014, her work on this project resulted in the unprecedented attainment of  WHO Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) by at four pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria (SWIPHA, CHI, MAY & BAKER and EVANS).....making them eligible for procurement by international organizations including United Nations (UN) Organizations.

She also consults as an Assistant to the Director-General (NAFDAC) on technical matters.

She is an associate of the Nigerian Leadership Initiative, She is also a member of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers Community (Lagos Hub).
She is also a commissioner for the first ever Lancet Youth Commission on Essential Medicines Policies(YCEMP).

She had previously served the FIP-YPG as the Public Relations Officer(PRO) and was fundamental to the establishment of the Young Pharmacist Group Nigeria (YPG-N) in 2012 modelled after the global group.
Omobo is also responsible for the YPG-N Professional Travel Grant, which has sponsored at least 18 young Nigerian pharmacists to international trainings within the last two years.
Nigeria was a double winner at the FIP-YPG election in Germany, as another young Nigerian pharmacist, Oluwatosin Adeyemi,a beneficiary of the 2015 grant, also emerged project coordinator of the group. Adeyemi is one of the few young Nigerian pharmacists in academia. He lectures in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Lagos.

Aside winning the project coordinator position, Adeyemi also made a poster presentation on the topic: “Assessing Beliefs about Medications for Hypertension and their Impact on Adherence” during the FIP conference.

Although, the main leadership of the FIP-YPG is a team of three elected officers (chairperson, project coordinator and public relations officer) usually from different countries, Nigerians are occupying two of the positions. A young American pharmacist, Sheena Patel, was the only other non-Nigerian that emerged as winner during the elections and she is to serve as the group’s public relations officer. They all will be serving the FIP-YPG for one-year.

The FIP-YPG was established 15 years ago as a network of FIP, mandated to encourage young pharmacists to be actively involved in international pharmacy activities and also work within the sections and organisation of FIP.

Members of the FIP-YPG are recent graduates of School of Pharmacy or Pharmaceutical Sciences (within the last five years) or a pharmacist under 35 years of age.

The FIP-YPG provides a platform for connecting with young pharmacists from around the world who are seeking networks, professional innovation and support.

FIP-YPG also supports members with travel awards and research grants.