Olabisi Onabanjo University will on Tuesday, 13th March, 2018 hold its 80th Inaugural Lecture entitled “Small Ruminant Production: A Neglected Panacea to Food Insecurity in Nigeria” at the Otunba Gbenga Daniel Lecture Theatre, Main Campus, Ago-Iwoye by 2.00pm.
The Lecture will be delivered by Professor Babatunde Badiu Ayinde Taiwo, a Professor of Small Ruminant Breeding and Provost, College of Agricultural Sciences.
Professor Babatunde Badiu Ayinde Taiwo joined the services of Olabisi Onabanjo University (formerly Ogun State University) as a Senior Lecturer on 1st October, 1987 and through dint of diligence rose to become a Professor in June 2013.
Born on 17th July, 1950 at old Alagbado Village in Ota, Ogun State, Professor Babatunde Badiu Ayinde Taiwo had his early education between 1955 – 1960 at the Ansar-ud-Deen Practising School, Otta after a sojourn in Vocational IInstitute in Iju-Agege and African Church School, Old Alagbado. He proceeded to the famous Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta and Higher School Ado-Ekiti where he bagged his West African Examination Council (WAEC) Certificate (Grade I) between 1964 – 1968. He later gained admission into the University of Ibadan for his university education where he had a Second Class Upper Degree in Agriculture with specialization in Animal Science between 1971 – 1974. He also had his Ph.D with specialization in Animal Breeding & Management between 1975 – 1979.
Professor Babatunde Badiu Ayinde Taiwo started his career as an Agricultural Officer at Ezillo/Ukalagu Farm in the then East Central State in 1974. He worked briefly at the Crop utilization Division of the National Cereals Research Institute, Moor Plantation, Ibadan. His Teaching experience which spanned over three and half decades started as classroom teacher of physics, chemistry and mathematics which also took him to Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode in 1971; Odosenlu Primary School in July, 1971, Agric Science Teacher at Community High School in Ezillo 1974/75, Yejide Girls Grammar school, Ibadan, Baptist Boys High School; Divisional Teacher Training College, Ilaro and Saint Peters College, Abeokuta between 1977 – 1980. He also taught in Animal Science at the school of Agric and Home Economics, Oyo State College of Education, Ilesa between 1980 – 1981. He was a Research Fellow in Animal Breeding with Small Ruminants at the National Animal Production Reseqarch Institute, Ahmadu Bello University Shika, Zaria between 1981 – 1987.
Professor Taiwo also has his stint as a University Lecturer in Department of Animal Science, University of Maiduguri in 1987. He was a onetime visiting Scientist at the New South Wales Agriculture, Dairy Research Institute, Wallongbar Australia between 1995 – 1997, Research Officer in Australian Tea Tree Research Institute, Raprile Australia where he Breed and Disseminated predators of chrysome bid bottle (pyrgaspp) on tea tree between 1996 – 1997 and Visiting Reader to Department of Animal Science and Fisheries University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Portharcourt between 2010 and 2011.
Professor Babatunde Ayinde Taiwo has served in several positions within his Faculty and University. Some of them are: Acting Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Production and Renewable Resources (FAPRER) 2008 – 2009, Three times Head of Department of Animal Producion – 1988-1992; 2005-2008; College of Agric. Representative on University Disciplinary Committee for Students 1992 – 1993, College of Agric. Representative, Olabisi Onabanjo University, International School Board (1998-2010); Member, ASUU Representative to OOU Visitation Panel August 1999. Two times Congregation Representative on OOU Council – 2000-2002, 2009-2011, Acting Director, OOU Consultancy Services – 2000-2002, Senate Representative on Staff, Professional Ethics and Disciplinary Committee 2009-2010; Chairman, Postgraduate Studies College of Agric Sciences 2012-2014 and Provost, College of Agricultural Sciences – August 2016 to Date.
Professor Babatunde Badiu Taiwo has bagged so many notable awards among which include: Federal Government scholarship for MSC programme in United Kingdom, Fellow of the Institute of Data Processing Management of Nigeria (FIDPN), Fellow of the Association of Costs and Executive Accountants of Nigeria, Long Service Award of OOU at the 30th Anniversary of the University 2012.
Professor Babatunde Badiu Ayinde Taiwo has contributed to knowledge immensely. He has 54 published articles in notable International and Local Journals besides research reports. He has attended many Conferences locally and in Australia where he presented lead papers.
He has been a reviewer to some scientific Journals among which are Nigerian Journal for Animal Production, Journal of Animal Production Research , Journal of Agricultural Education, Nigerian Journal of Agricultural Production, Tropical Journal of Animal Science.
Professor Babatunde Ayinde Taiwo is a lifetime member of some professional bodies such as: Nigerian Society for Animal Production, Animal Science Association of Nigeria and Registered Animal Scientist, Nigerian Institute of Animal Science.
Professor Babatunde Taiwo is happily married with children.
The Inaugural lecture is expected to be graced by distinguished scholars, government functionaries, eminent personalities, Traditional rulers and well meaning Nigerians from all walks of life.
