Background
Melody Okereke is a fourth-year Bachelor of Pharmacy Candidate at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Kwara State. With special interests in Computational Drug Research, Discovery and Development, he is an astute researcher with over 60 publications -spanning across global and public health and the pharmaceutical industry- in international peer-reviewed journals and dailies. He has been featured in international and Nigeria’s leading dailies such as The Vanguard, Tribune Newspaper, etc. for his advocacy in the healthcare space.
He was a part of the 6-man team that analysed the perspectives of pharmacy students in Africa towards the Nanjing Statements. The findings of this research were presented at the 79th FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Dubai in 2019 and used as an advocacy toolkit to advance pharmacy education in Africa. He is the first and only pharmacy undergraduate in Nigeria to receive the Mike How Award from the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) recognizing his passion and research advocacies in the pharmaceutical industry, with a fully-funded scholarship to attend the 2022 World Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Seville, Spain and is currently serving as a member of the youth advisory council on pharmaceutical industry to CEOs and heads of leading pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria and Africa.
He was recently awarded the 2023 FACES Travel Grant for Early Career Scientists by the American Chemical Society, the IWHP Fully-Funded Travel Scholarship to attend and present his research in Australia, and the prestigious 2023 Diana Award by the Royal Family, United Kingdom for his dedication and commitment to enhancing and supporting the careers and professional development of pharmacy students across Nigeria.
Winning the Prestigious Princess Diana Award
In a world that often seems overwhelmed with challenges, there are shining examples of individuals who are making a positive impact, especially in the field of human and academic development. One such remarkable individual is Melody, whose unwavering dedication and commitment to supporting pharmacy students in Nigeria has earned him the prestigious 2023 Diana award. This award is a testament to Melody’s passion for empowering young minds and nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Melody received the 2023 Diana award for his dedication and commitment to supporting the career and professional development of pharmacy students across Nigeria through capacity building initiatives and programmes. Through his outstanding initiatives, he has been able to train over 300 pharmacy students nationwide in research writing with several research papers published in international peer-reviewed journals. In addition, myriads of the mentorship opportunities and career development workshops which he facilitated has impacted over 600 pharmacy students nationwide both directly and indirectly.
Ongoing Projects
Melody is currently running a mentorship bootcamp—consisting of more than 180 participants—as part of his dreams of advancing the career and professional development of pharmacy students and young professionals across Nigeria. Through the boot camp, participants are exposed to rigorous research training to sharpen their competence and skillset in scientific inquiry. Additionally, they have the opportunity to connect with scholars worldwide who mentor and guide them, paving the way toward winning prominent scholarships that will propel their careers to remarkable heights.
Melody asserts that winning the Diana Award has further fuelled his passion for empowering the next generation.
Ducit Blue Foundation is deeply impressed by Melody’s dedication to advancing his career and making significant contributions to the African Pharmaceutical Industry and healthcare system. Despite being an undergraduate, Melody has proven to be an invaluable asset, demonstrating his passion for public health and youth empowerment. We see Melody as a promising health champion and a role model for others to follow. Melody’s efforts are commendable, and his potential to create a lasting impact is highly recognized.
