The Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Mrs. Folukemi Aladenola FPSN has bagged the highest degree in Academics, a Doctor of Philosophy.
Aladenola was one of the graduates at the 47th convocation ceremony during the weekend at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife where she bagged a Ph.D. in Pharmacy Administration.
In a well attended ceremony by friends, family, and colleagues, Aladenola ascribed all glory to God for helping her to complete at a record time with no extra day despite her busy schedule. She appreciated her husband, children, mother, family, and friends for all the support in making this feat achievable.
Aladenola hails from the royal Adegbulu Dynasty of Akure Kingdom. She started her academic journey at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- ife, where she bagged a Bachelor Degree in Pharmacy. She started her career at OAU Teaching Hospital Ife and later moved to the medical unit of Central Bank of Nigeria, Lagos, before coming home to join the Civil Service of Ondo State at the request of Pa Reuben Fashoranti, her uncle.
She ascended the ladder in her chosen career to become the Chief Pharmacist at the National Health Insurance Scheme unit at the then State Specialist Hospital, Akure, in 2007.
In her thirst for academic attainment, she returned to Obafemi Awolowo University for her Master Degree in Public Health (MPH-2013) and her Master of Philosophy in Clinical Pharmacy and Administration (MPhil- 2017)
In 2016, she was sponsored by World Bank to attend a short course on Advanced Epidemiological Analysis at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. She also has a certificate in Leadership and Management in Health Sector, University of Washington in 2018.
She was appointed the Program Officer/ Deputy Project Coordinator (Performance Based Financing) of a World Bank sponsored program from 2011-2015, she served as the State DLI officer in the Department of Planning Research and Statistics, MoH and was later transferred to the Department of Pharmaceutical Services as the substantive Deputy Director in 2015.
She is the pioneer Logistics Management Coordinating Unit (LMCU), State Coordinator, which was adjudged as one of the top 3 performing LMCUs in the country. She later became a substantive director and was posted as the pioneer director of the Department of Supply Chain Management and Pharmacy Investments in the Ministry of Health.
Several verifiable and transformational efforts were initiated by her among which are facilitation of the establishment of the Ondo State Drug and Health Commodities Management Agency, a new Agency in the State’s Health Sector responsible for uninterrupted supply of drugs and health commodities in Govt health facilities.
She equally championed the procurement of Truscan machine for the detection of fake and counterfeit drugs, making Ondo State the first state in the country to achieve this feat. As the DLI state officer, Aladenola in 2017 ensured the reactivation of the department of Pharmacy Technician in the College of Health Technology and the construction of State Public Health Laboratory Akure, which has now been upgraded to a molecular laboratory status.
Dr. Aladenola (FPSN) is a recipient of many certificates with honors. She is a Certified Federal Ministry of Health Master Trainer on Integrated Supply Chain Management System and also a National Primary Health Care/ World Bank Resource Person on Performance Based Financing for Health Sector strengthening.
She has served in several committees, one of which is the Ondo State Nose Mask Production Committee constituted by Mr. Governor in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, where she was the secretary.
She is a recipient of many lnternationally, National, and State awards, which include the best overall distinction candidate at the World Bank Sponsored International PBF training in Kenya, 2014. Best Ondo State participant at Enugu training NSHIP for Health sector strengthening in 2011, Ondo State Govt scholarship award as the best female student in Science, Technology and Mathematics in 1988, 2nd Best Student in Akure by Oyemekun Frontal’s Club in 1990.
Merit award winner by Ondo PSN in 2011. She is a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN), the highest award in the Pharmacy profession.
Like a gold fish and a city on a hill that has no hiding place, she was appointed Permanent Secretary by the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON in 2021.
She is currently the Chairperson, Nigeria Permanent Secretaries Health Forum.
Hearty congratulations to this profound scholar, trail blazer, and distinguished administrator per excellence.
Bisi Lawani
Head, Media and Publicity
Ministry of Health
Study @ Achievers University
