Ibadan Scholars, Biz Community Laud Makinde over new SSG

Notable scholars and eminent businessmen in Ibadan on Monday commended the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde on the appointment of an erudite scholar and pioneer Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan on Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, Prof. Olanike Kudirat Adeyemo as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

Makinde announced Adeyemo, a Professor at the Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ibadan, as the Secretary to the State Government designate in the early hours of Monday.

Adeyemo was sighted by reporters on Sunday at the reception in honour of Ibadan-based billionaire businessman and friend of Governor Makinde, Chief Dotun Sanusi who was appointed by the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Elekuro Ibadan as Knight of John Wesley (KJW).

Speaking on phone to newsmen aftermath the announcement, Sanusi, owner of Ilaji Hotels and Sports resort, described the appointment of Prof Adeyemo as a great news to him and many other scholars, businessmen and professionals in Ibadan and across Oyo State.

He said calls he received from across these professionals to appreciate the Governor, have again confirmed that the State Governor is a man who is determined to change the face of governance in the State by attracting professionals to work with him.

Sanusi said like numerous others, he could not hide his feelings about the Governor’s decision, stressing that: “many of our compatriots especially scholars, businessmen and other professionals have been calling me to express their gratitude to His Excellency for this honour to one of us.

“His Excellency is entrenching his name in gold through very many unbeatable and unprecedented records of selfless service to our dear State.

“The Governor is rewarding excellence and attracting quality men and women who can fast track developments to our dear State under the Omituntun 2.0.

“Several calls from our friends in Ibadan Professional Community woke me up earlier in the day as they are full of thanks and prayers to His Excellency to succeed in the tasks at hand.

“The love our people are showing to His Excellency is unparalleled and this shows that this appointment is thoughtful, commendable and highly representative especially in terms of gender and religious balancing.

“On behalf of all of us and UI Almuni set members of Prof Olanike Kudirat Adeyemo, I want to say a big thank you to His Excellency. He is a leader who has been tested and trusted especially for rewarding quality people that can do the job and support his aspiration for a greater Oyo State.

“This is a golden era in our State. Governor Seyi Makinde with his 2.0 agenda is indeed a great turning point for us as stakeholders in the Project Oyo State

Prof. Nike Adeyemo a friend of Dotun Sanusi is a worthy alumnus of the University of Ibadan.

Born on July 17, 1970, Adeyemo served as the Head of the Oyo State COVID-19 Decontamination and Containment team of the Oyo State COVID-19 Taskforce.

She bagged the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), Master’s degree in Veterinary Public Health (MVPH) and Ph.D. Veterinary Public Health, in 1994, 1998 and 2005 respectively from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Professor Adeyemo, who is a COMSTECH Distinguished scholar and the Pioneer Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships) at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan between 2017 and 2021, joined the services of the university in March 1999 as Lecturer Grade II in the Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine. She became Lecturer I in 2002, Senior Lecturer/Assistant Professor in 2005 and Reader/Associate Professor in 2008. In October 2011, she became a full Professor.

From August 2013 to July 2015, she was a Schlumberger Foundation-sponsored Visiting Scholar at the Center for Human and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Physiological sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.

Between March 13, 2017 and March 12, 2021, Professor Adeyemo served as the Pioneer Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships), University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

A 2013 Fellow of the College of Veterinary Surgeon, Nigeria and a Registered Veterinary Surgeon, Adeyemo is a Fellow of many academies, such as the International Science Council (ISC), The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Mitigation, the Nigerian Academy of Science, the African Academy of Sciences and the African Scientific Institute (ASI), USA.

She is also a member of many learned societies, including Society of Toxicology (SOT), the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA) and the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSDW).

Professor Adeyemo’s scholarship and leadership are around “One Health” trans-disciplinary research that cuts across traditional boundaries and paradigms to create novel conceptual, methodological, and translational innovation at the environment-livestock-wildlife-human interface with significant policy implication for Nigeria, the African Continent, and the rest of the world.

She is the host PI on the project (2020-2023) titled “Improving Biosecurity: A Science-based Approach to Manage Fish Disease Risks and Increase the Socio-economic Contribution of the Nigerian Catfish and Tilapia Industries” in collaboration with colleagues at Mississippi State University, USA and WorldFish, Malaysia is facilitated by USAID grant under the Fish Innovation Lab for Fish. The project is aimed at improving Nigerian aquatic animal production biosecurity and health management.

An erudite scholar, she also has many publications to her credit.