Professor Ibrahim Adamu Yakasai, of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Bayero University Kano (BUK), has emerged victorious at the polls as the winner of the 2024 Dean’s Award, with a total of 904 votes to defeat the first runner-up, Professor Emmanuel Attih, of the University of Uyo, Faculty of Pharmacy with 580 votes. Other contestants in the keenly contested online poll, Professor Gloria Ayoola of the University of Lagos (UNILAG); and Ass. Prof. John Alfa of Bingham University, had 560 and 188 respectively.

The Dean of the Year Award is a novel introduction to the Pharmanews Online Poll series, which is specially designed for deans of Pharmacy faculties across the country. It was created to recognize deans of Pharmacy faculties who have contributed significantly to the development of their faculties.

The Dean of the Year is the latest addition to the Pharmanews Online Poll, which saw  Professor Festus B. C. Okoye, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) as the winner of the maiden edition in 2022, while Professor Azukah Oparah of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, clinched the trophy in 2023.

The previous editions of the contest had witnessed massive participation of former deans from universities across the country including Prof. M.U. Uhumwangho, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin; Prof. Aderonke Adepoju-Bello, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos; Prof. Kenneth C. Ofokansi, Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Prof. Theophine Akunne, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, and Prof. Uthman G. Sadiq, University of Maiduguri, in the maiden edition.

While the second edition had the active engagements of Prof. Ighodaro Igbe, Igbinedion University Okada; Prof. Theophine C. Akunne, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University; Prof. Margaret Olubunmi Afolabi, of Obafemi Awolowo University; Prof. Chibueze Ihekwereme, Nnamdi Azikiwe University  and Prof. Benjamin U. Ebeshi Nigeria Delta University.