Lateef Akinola Salako

Lateef Akinola Salako was a notable Nigerian professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics who made significant contributions to the field of Malaria research. He was born on 23rd November 1935 and passed away on 7th November 2016.

Early Life and Education

Lateef Akinola Salako was born in Ijebu-Ode, a town in Ogun State, Nigeria. He attended the famous King's College, Lagos for his secondary education before proceeding to the University of Ibadan where he obtained his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree in 1962. He furthered his education at the University of London where he obtained a Diploma in Child Health (DCH) in 1965 and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Pharmacology in 1969.

Career

Salako returned to Nigeria after his studies and joined the University of Ibadan as a lecturer in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics. He rose through the ranks to become a professor in 1977. His research focused on the pharmacokinetics of antimalarial drugs, and he made significant contributions to the understanding of drug metabolism in malaria patients.

In addition to his academic career, Salako served in various administrative capacities. He was the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ibadan from 1981 to 1983 and the Provost of the College of Medicine from 1984 to 1987. He also served as the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University from 1988 to 1991.

Contributions to Malaria Research

Salako's research in malaria pharmacokinetics led to a better understanding of how antimalarial drugs are metabolized in the body. His work helped to improve the effectiveness of antimalarial treatment and contributed to the development of new drugs for the treatment of malaria.

Honours and Awards

In recognition of his contributions to medical research and education, Salako received numerous awards and honours. He was a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London and the Nigerian Academy of Science. He was also awarded the Prince Mahidol Award in Medicine in 1996.

Death

Lateef Akinola Salako passed away on 7th November 2016 at the age of 80.

See Also

• List of Nigerian scientists
• Malaria research
• Pharmacokinetics