Nigerian-Born Chemist Advances Global Drug Safety, Plans US Testing Lab
A Nigerian-born chemist working in the United States, Kaothar Olurode Adeleke, has announced plans to establish an independent contract analytical testing laboratory to help prevent drug shortages and expand quality-control
Nigerian-born chemist Kaothar Olurode Adeleke is set to launch an independent contract analytical testing laboratory, aiming to bolster drug safety and quality control in the pharmaceutical industry. Currently employed as a Quality Control Chemist at Tower Laboratories Ltd in the U.S., Adeleke has observed that testing facilities often hinder pharmaceutical production, delaying patients' access to safe medications.
At her current role, she conducts analytical tests to ensure medications' potency, stability, and shelf life prior to distribution, working with major companies like Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Adeleke emphasized the importance of rigorous laboratory verification for every medicine to safeguard patients from substandard products. She highlighted her commitment to applying science to solve practical problems and enhance human lives. Prior to her U.S. career, Adeleke completed her education in Osun State, earning a National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Science Laboratory Technology from The Federal Polytechnic, Ede.
She credited the practical laboratory training with preparing her for international industry standards.
Afterward, Adeleke pursued a Master of Science degree in Chemistry at the University of New Haven in Connecticut, where she focused her thesis on converting carbon dioxide, a major contributor to global warming, into methanol—a useful chemical and potential fuel. She stressed that academic research should translate into practical solutions that benefit the environment and improve daily life.
In her address to young Nigerians aspiring to careers in science, research, and innovation, Adeleke encouraged them not to be deterred by the challenges faced by the scientific community. She urged them to start where they are, learn what they can, and remember that every expert they admire was once a beginner. Adeleke also emphasized the intellectual capacity of young Africans to contribute to global scientific advancement, urging them to pursue opportunities with confidence and believe that they belong in the best laboratories working on the biggest problems.
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