MAKINDE APPOINTS ISEYIN BORN PROF OLANIKE KUDIRAT ADEYEMO AS SSG DESIGNATE PLUS 10 INTERESTING TO KNOW ABOUT HER
Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde has announced Mrs Olanike Kudirat Adeyemo, a Professor at the Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ibadan, as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) designate.
The announcement was contained in a letter signed by the state governor.
Professor Adeyemo, who served as the Head of the Oyo State COVID-19 Decontamination and Containment team of the Oyo State COVID-19 Taskforce, was born on July 17, 1970.
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 has many publications to her credit.
10 INTERESTING THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT HER
1. Professor Olanike Kudirat Adeyemo was born at Ibadan on 17th July, 1970, to the family of the late Alhaji Moshood Akanni Salami, Baale Ladogan of Iseyin, Oyo State and Madam Modupeola Aduke Salami of Ile-Loosare, Igbajo, State of Osun.
2. She started her primary education at LEA Primary School, Kigo Road, Kaduna (1975-1978) and later attended CAC Primary School, Sango, Ibadan, from 1979 to 1981. Her Secondary School education was at Anwar-Ul-Islam Grammar School (formerly Ahmadiyya Grammar School), Eleyele, Ibadan where she completed her West African Secondary School leaving Certificate in 1986.
3. She had a brief stint of Advanced Level studies at St. Annes School, Molete before she entered the University of Ibadan during the 1987/88 session to study Veterinary Medicine. She undertook the National Youth Service Corps Scheme from June 1994 till May 1995 as a Veterinary Officer with the Safana Local Government Area, Safana, Katsina State.
4. She had her postgraduate trainings (MVPH and Ph.D.) at the University of Ibadan and was employed as a Lecturer Grade II in the Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine on March 15 1999. She rose rapidly through the ranks being promoted to the grade of Lecturer I in 2002, Senior Lecturer in 2005, Reader in 2008 and Professor effective 1st October, 2011.
5. She has a pioneering role as the first female in the field of Aquatic Veterinary Medicine in any Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Nigeria. Her research focus is premised on “One Health”, which promotes health through interdisciplinary study and action, across all animal species, human and the environment. This unique perspective and approach has produced research outputs which addressed aquatic epidemiology/pollution and emerging diseases with the potential for significant transboundary and/or socioeconomic impacts at the animal-human ecosystem interface; thus, providing a strong evidence base to support policy decisions on global public health at international, regional and national levels.
6. Professor Olanike Adeyemo has 96 publications to her credit. These include Chapters in books, Journal articles, conference proceedings, Technical Reports and Monographs. She has supervised 28 DVM, 22 postgraduate students (MVPH and PhD), and she is currently supervising 12 postgraduate Students. She has obtained funding /awards towards research and professional development from MASHAV, Israel (2005), START/PACOM, USA (2006), USDA/USAID, USA (2006), USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service, USA (2008), Nuffic Fellowship Program Grant, Netherlands (2009), IFS, Sweden (2010-2012) and Schlumberger Foundation, USA (2013-2015).
7. On account of her multidisciplinary research designed to deliver much needed, cutting-edge knowledge on the relationships between ecosystems, zoonoses, health and wellbeing; she has garnered a lot of awards and recognitions for her significant contributions. She has received University of Ibadan’s Vice-Chancellor’s commendations thrice for Academic Excellence and Achievements. Prof. Olanike Adeyemo was appointed to the roster of toxicological and epidemiological experts of the Joint FAO/WHO Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) from 2011-2015 and renewed from 2016-2020.
8. She was listed in the 2011 edition of “Black Achievers in Science and Technology”, an African Scientific Institute’s publication, which recognizes the achievement of excellence of Individuals of African heritage in his/her field of endeavour. Prof Adeyemo is also a Fellow of Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD), Eisenhower Fellowship program and African Scientific Institute (ASI). In 2012, she was nominated and elected Fellow, African Academy of Sciences and in 2016, Academy of Science (Nigeria).
9. 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.
10. She enjoys the support of her loving husband, Biodun, and they are blessed with 3 sons and a daughter.
