Olutayo Arikawe
Health
She qualified as a Pharmacist from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria; and was the recipient of Jigawa State Honours award during her National Youth Service. She presently supports young pharmacists in Nigeria.
She is currently the Superintendent Pharmacist for the YPG Project Ltd (The Priory Community Pharmacy) - a not for profit social enterprise established to serve one of the most deprived areas in Dudley, West Midlands.
She is a multi-award winning pharmacist who has been recognised for her passion for Pharmacy and dedication to improving the quality of health of her patients and community. She is involved in Public health activities such as preventing unwanted pregnancies, helping people to stop smoking, health checks, sexual health and reducing alcohol intake.
In 2016, she won the award for the Best Pharmacist in the United Kingdom (‘I love my pharmacist’ award, Royal Pharmaceutical Society). She is the first black person to win the Community Pharmacist of the Year, and in 2017, she was crowned the ‘Best of the Best Pharmacist’ in the United Kingdom (Chemist and Druggist awards).
Olutayo Arikawe
A 2016 report on the pass rate of Black Pharmacists in the pre-registration showed a low pass rate and one of the issues identified was lack of role models; She now has a group of Black Women Pharmacists and Pharmacists-to-be she mentors to be the best in their chosen profession. She also mentors voluntarily for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
Her role in her community has been acknowledged by the Mayor of Dudley. She was the runner up for the Mayor of Dudley Business Awards.
She was listed among the 120 most influential people in Pharmacy 2017 and the C.Hub list of 100 most Creative 2017.
Mrs Olutayo Arikawe is the MD of LT Coaching and Consulting where she coaches and mentors people to be the best they can be. She is a motivational speaker and works as a Visiting Lecturer to the Wolverhampton University.