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The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, mni, FAS, has called for more engagements between the institution’s gown and town for significant societal impact.
According to him, greater things are achieved when there is harmonious relationship between institutions personnels and its community.
The VC through the University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Professor Aderonke Baiyeroju, stated this at the grand event of the retrospective 60th anniversary colloquium (1962–2022) of the Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology on Thursday.
The colloquium was themed “Revamping Environmental Management for a Food-Secure Nigeria while the topic of discussion was ‘The Past, Present, and Future of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology’.
Speaking on the 60th celebration of the department, the DVC noted that it signified homecoming for CPEB alumni; networking for past, current, and future collaborators; and brainstorming to review future plans.
She added that the theme at topics of discussion was in line with the vision of the University of Ibadan which states “to be a world-class institution for academic excellence geared towards meeting societal needs.”
She therefore expressed the appreciation of the University’s management to all the local and international partners present at the occasion: IITA, NOSDRA, IAR&T, Harvestfield Industries Limited, A Fruitful Environment Ltd., and others, calling for sustained collaborations for greater impact.
The Chairperson at the event and Director, of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Professor Veronica Obatolu, commended the initiative of the Department for using the 60th anniversary celebration to engage relevant stakeholders to come up with strategies that will mitigate food shortages and climate change.
She considered this timely, most especially now that the Federal Government has declared a state of emergency on the food security situation in the country with continued efforts at finding a way out of the situation.
Professor Obatolu, further stated that in a bid to ensure food security for the increasing population, several human efforts that are being explored are not environmentally friendly and have no regard for ecosystems.
She noted that this has resulted in much damage and evolving issues that are more deleterious to nature, causing a lot of damage to ecosystems through unguided practices.
Professor Obatolu warned that if frantic and pragmatic efforts were not made to halt this process and restore the damaged environment, it would become more complex to feed ourselves.
According to her, the solution to the problems of food insecurity and climate change lies in collaborative efforts and pledged a continued and sustained collaboration with the Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology to make Nigeria a better place for all.
The Head, of the Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, Professor Morufat Balogun, explained that the retrospective celebration was consequent upon the disruption of the academic calendar experienced between 2020 and 2022.
She highlighted the various impacts of the CPEB over the years and the set pursuits of the department in the coming years.
The high point of the colloquium was the presentation of awards to various recipients who have impeccable records and are noteworthy in personality and achievements. The awards were in two categories: the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Distinguished Personality Award.
Recipients in the Distinguished Alumni Award Category include Mr Adeniyi Olabisi Arinmoro, MD/CEO, A Fruitful Environment Ltd. (AFEL); Ifeoluwa Christie Oyeyemi, a Distinguished Entrepreneur in Agriculture; Kafilat Adedeji, a Distinguished Entrepreneur; Mary Abiola Olubode-Azeez, CEO, Abiola Mush Agro Enterprises; Prof. Chiedozie Ngozi Egesi, Director, NRCRI, Umudike; Prof. Bamidele Fawole, Retired Professor of Nematology, UI; Prof. Elechi Franca Asawalam, DVC, Administration, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and Prof. Ololade Adeduro Enikuomehin, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society for Plant Protection (NSPP).
Recipients in the Distinguished Personality Award Category includedDrr. P. Lava Kumar, Head, Germplasm Health, Virology & Diagnostics Unit, IITAMrr. Idris Olubola Musa, DG/CEO, Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA); Prince Martins A. Awofisayo, MD/CEO, Harvestfield Industries Ltd; Michael T. Abberton, Director, R4D, WA, Head, Genetic Resources Centre, and Head, Biosciences Centre, and IITA; Prof. Isaac F. Adewole, FAS, former Minister of Health and 11th VC, University of Ibadan.
The celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology spanned a whole week with many activities that involved the students and lecturers as well as other members of the university community.
