BASF West Africa announces winners of Young Female Pharmacist award
Mfonobong Emmanuel Nelson, a 2015 graduate of the University of Uyo, has emerged the winner of the maiden edition of the BASF West Africa Young Female Pharmacist of the Year award.
The company, in partnership with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, had announced earlier this year, its plans to recognise and reward young female pharmacists in an effort to raise awareness on gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and contribute to the bridging of the gap.
Jean-marc Ricca, managing director for BASF West Africa, while giving out the cash prizes to the winners at the 91st Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria’s Annual National Conference, said with only 17 women having been awarded a Nobel Prize in physics, chemistry or medicine since 1903, it was the company’s hope that the award would be an impetus for increased interest and enrolment of females in STEM. “We also look forward to more science- focused organisations to step in to make contributions geared towards the generating the interests of females in STEM,” he said.
Ukeme Daniel of the University of Uyo and Rashidat Elesho, of the University of Lagos were announced as the first and second runnersup respectively.
Ahmed Yakasai, immediate past president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, congratulated the winners of the award, and encouraged all other young female pharmacists below the age of 35 years to look forward to the award next year.