Professor Isa Odidi-A True Trailblazer

You cannot help but recognise the genius in Professor Isa Odidi. Thus, Professor Odidi, was conferred a honorary doctorate degree; a Doctor of Science (D.Sc) by the University of Benin in Edo State, Nigeria, West Africa.

Excellence does speak and indeed just like the proverbial saying, a lit candle cannot be put under a bushel, but on a candlestick. It's light cannot be hidden. It will shine through, it will lit up everything and everyone around it and those that come in contact with it. Such is the prolific nature of Professor Isa Odidi, a trailblazer, with yet a meek persona. 

Professor Odidi's years of hard work and dedication towards making the world a better place via Pharmaceutics, Research and Development, Innovation and Invention, was honoured.

Please read below Professor Isa Odidi's citation:

UNIVERSITY OF BENIN,

BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

CITATION

38TH CONVOCATION CEREMONY

CONFERMENT OF DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF SCIENCE (D.SC)

(HONORIS CAUSA)

OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN,

BENIN CITY.

ON

DR. ISA ODIDI

SATURDAY 24TH NOVEMBER 2012

CANCELLOR SIR, I present Isa Odidi, B. Sc, M.Sc. MBA, Ph.D, an academic giant and colossus that bestrides both the academic and business world, a two in one combination the rare Research and Development guru; a Professor of Pharmaceutics, an innovator and inventor, a first class Scientist, an industrialist/manufacturer, a man that delivers in dogged and uncompressing commitment to defending ideals, a politician both in theory and practice, whose actions have greatly helped to shape the political landscape of Nigeria and Canada, an ambassador plenipotentiary of Nigerian and African causes that has made the Diaspora instrument a veritable and effective weapon for addressing Africa’s continental problems; a man of peace both in advocacy and contact; a true patriot, a Pan-Africanist; a great motivator, a mentor, a facilitator, a bridge builder, man of intimidating achievements who is highly respected, and revered in scholarly circles and industrial world; an entrepreneur par-excellence, a man most worthy of honour; an epitome of the outstanding accomplishments of Nigerians in the Diaspora who are doing Nigeria and indeed Africa proud; a worthy illustrious son of Kano State and Edo State, the great icon Professor Isa Odidi.

Dr. Isa Odidi had a solid educational foundation that was laid both here in Nigeria and internationally.  He received his B.Sc. degree in Pharmacy, from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and M.Sc., Pharmaceutical Technology and Ph.D. Pharmaceutics degrees from the University of London, England.  While already a core specialist, to position himself for effective business management, Dr. Odidi went further to also graduate from the highly regarded Western Executive Management Program at the Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario.  He is also a member of University of Toronto, Rotman’s School of Business Class of 2001 where be obtained his MBA.

Dr. Isa Odidi is a core academic who for many was given to full time lecturing and research.  He held senior positions in academia and has continued to nurture young academics even after veering to business and industry.  He currently holds a chair as Professor or Pharmaceutical Technology in Canada, and is an Adjunct Professor at the Institute for Molecular Medicine, California U.S.A.  A remarkable feature of Dr. Odidi’s early academic career was that he conscientiously and devotedly pursued research and in the process he came up with notable inventions.  Interestingly, rather than wait for those that will translate his inventions into practical use he moved into industrial production.  Dr. Odidi epitomizes the much desired connection between research and development (R&D) which is a sine qua non for national development.

Chancellor Sir, Dr. Odidi’s mercurial performance in the industrial world has been quite outstanding.  From 1995 to 1998, Dr. Isa Odidi held positions, first as Director, then as Vice President of Research, Drug Development and New Technologies at Biovail Corporation International (now Biovail Corporation), a drug delivery company.  During this time, Dr. Odidi developed several blockbuster drugs, including super generics of the very difficult to duplicate Adalat CC (Bayer) and Procardia XL (Pfizer).

In 1998, Dr. Isa Odidi and Dr. Amina Odidi co-founded Intellipharmaceutics Inc., the predecessor of the now publicly-traded Intellipharmaceutics International Inc.

Dr. Isa Odidi is a founder and one of the principals of Intellipharmaceutics, and serves as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Co-Chief Scientific Officer and Chair of Scientific Advisory Board.

In the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Odidi is highly regarded for his entrepreneurial acumen and managerial efficiency, something rare for a scientist.  Dr. Odidi is also a highly respected innovator and inventor with a long history of success.  His works have been cited in textbooks and he has published over a hundred scientific and medical papers, articles and textbooks.

Dr. Odidi’s role in the company: Intellipharmaceutics Inc. is to provide inventive approaches to drug formulation, strategic direction, managerial and scientific guidance, and to oversee the widest commercialization of the company’s considerable scientific capabilities.

Dr. Odidi is a leading pharmaceutical scientist responsible for the pharmaceutical technology and related products that have had a far reaching impact on Africa and the rest of the world.  Dr. Odidi continues to develop the technology and products that have a tremendous impact on Africa and millions of sick people around the work in chronic disease areas including Hypertension, Angina, Heart Failure, Asthma, Bipolar Disorder, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Pain, Stomach Ulcers, Osteoporosis, Diabetes, Depression and Schizophrenia.  He is highly motivated in his work by his undying commitment and passion for improving the lot of humanity worldwide.

Chancellor Sir, a remarkable credential of Dr. Odidi’s illustrious career has been his dogged commitment to the uplift of mother Africa; hence he has been involved in various projects connected with Africa’s development.  In this regard, Dr. Isa Odidi is currently a member of the Global Leadership foundation and continues to push the African agenda to the forefront of discussions through international al advocacy.  The Global leadership Foundation, founded by FW De Klerk, promotes good governance, democratic institutions, open markets, human rights and the rule of law, and the prevention and resolution of conflict through mediation.  As a GLF member, Dr. Isa Odidi joins ranks with other GLF members that include former Prime Minister of Canada, Right Honourable Joe Clark, former prime Minister of New Zealand, Mike Moore, former Prime Minister of France, Michel Rocard and former Minister of State for Overseas Development at the Foreign Office, United Kingdom, Lynda Chalker, Baroness Chalker of Wallasey  just to name a few.  To accelerate the focus of Africa, Dr. Isa Odidi sponsored the first ever GLF meeting in Canada held in October 2008 where world leaders gathered and discussed issues that would benefit Africa tremendously.  This meeting took place at the prestigious Pillar and the Post Property located in Niagara on the Lake, Canada.

In his continuing struggle for Africa, Dr. Odidi is also a Member of the Executive Council and An administrator of The Canadian Council on Africa (CC Africa).  CC Africa is a highly influential Canadian organization dedicated to promoting trade and investment between the Canadian and African communities, with a focus on capacity building and serving private and public organization to get work on Africa done while urging continued hard work to promote the African agenda and spirited good relations and trade agreements with the continent.

Chancellor Sir, Dr. Odidi continues to navigate new vistas in his unquenchable interest in the development of Africa in general and more specifically our beloved county Nigeria.  His is a pioneer in the evolution of Diaspora Nigerians involvement in the political landscape of Nigeria.  Dr. Odidi is the founder of the new Democrats Political party.  The Party was the first political party in Nigeria and Africa to be formed and managed from abroad.  Dr. Isa Odidi’s decision to form the New Democrats Political Party was rooted in his love and passion for Africa and his devotion to the country even while residing in Canada.

Dr. Odidi contested the April 2007 Nigerian Elections and challenged the Nigerian constitution on the question of a dual citizen running for Presidential Election.  Dr. Odidi changed history in the historic landmark decision by the courts to allow a dual citizen to contest the elections. This feat was a major accomplishment for Dr. Odidi and all Africans in Diaspora due to its tremendous precedence.  He has continued to show keen interest in political developments in Nigeria.

While in Canada he has continued to mobilize both human and natural resources for the uplift of mankind, especially Africans.  Dr. Isa Odidi is the Governor of the Canadian International Peace Project, and the Canadian International Peace project is an independent; non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting peace, development and security locally, nationally and internationally.  Through his capacity as Governor, Dr. Isa Odidi’s work has contributed to humanitarianism, peace and development in Africa and the rest of the world, promoting greater education, understanding and harmony among a wide range of racial, ethnic, linguistic and cultural communities.

Dr. Isa Odidi has the character of a leader and espouses a true global and African citizen.  His work across science, polities, business and the peace process are qualities of a true leader.

Chancellor Sir, the Odidi success story is an eloquent testimony to the veracity of the adage that behind very successful man there is a woman.  Dr. Odidi is blessed with a great woman of substance and royal pedigree, Dr. (Mrs) Amina Odidi, a princess of the royal family of the Kano Emirate. She received her B.Sc in Pharmacy, M.Sc in Biopharmaceutics and her Ph.D in Pharmaceutics from the University of London. She co-founded Intellipharmaceutics Inc., the predecessor of the publicly traded Intellipharmaceutics International Inc.  She has continued to co-invent, co-invest, co-product and synergized with her darling husband Dr. Odidi.  They have been an unstoppable winning team.

Chancellor Sir, great achievers, those that chart the course of human development, individuals of impeccable character, visionaries, inventors, scholars, industrialists, great entrepreneurs, men that are conscientious, focused, tenacious in pursuing set goals, patriots, nationalist, social crusaders, defenders of the downtrodden, lovers and promoters of peace, mentors, inspirational leaders, and indeed men that have been blessings to their fellow men and women and indeed to humanity, such men deserve honour and deserve to be celebrated, such a man is Dr. Isa Odidi.

It is this rare gem, a most worthy and illustrious son of Etsako land, Edo State and Hausa-Fulani Land, Kano State, proudly Nigerian and by adoption Canada that I now most enthusiastically have sent to you by the authority of Senate and Council for the ward of Doctor of Science (D.Sc) degree of the University of Benin, honoris causa. 

Thank you.