Alternative Animal Feed Key to Food Security, Healthier Poultry Products — FUNAAB's DVC, Academic

 

 … As the University Holds 114th Inaugural Lecture

 By Olasunkanmi Olajide & Joy Adeyiga

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof. Olusegun Mark Obafemi Idowu, has called for increased investment in alternative animal feed resources as a sustainable solution to Nigeria's food security challenges, rising livestock production costs, and the demand for healthier animal products.

Speaking while delivering the 114th Inaugural Lecture of the University today, July 8, 2026, Prof. Idowu said his decades of research had demonstrated that locally available, non-conventional feed resources could significantly reduce the cost of livestock production while improving animal performance and the nutritional quality of poultry products.

Titled, "Feed to Food: Biological Machines in the Hands of a Monogastric Nutritionist," the Professor of Monogastric Animal Nutrition explained that his research had successfully established the nutritional and economic value of alternative feed ingredients such as Cassava Root Sievate, Shrimp Waste nd Unpeeled Cassava Root Meal.

According to him, the feed materials not only improve feed conversion efficiency but also reduce dependence on conventional feed ingredients that compete directly with human food consumption. Prof. Idowu disclosed that one of the landmark outcomes of his research was the ability to reduce cholesterol levels in poultry products through dietary manipulation.

He explained that incorporating alternative feed resources into poultry diets significantly lowered cholesterol concentrations in eggs, blood plasma and liver tissues, while dietary copper supplementation enhanced cholesterol excretion. He added that the combined use of copper and ascorbic acid effectively reduced cholesterol without causing excessive copper residue in chicken muscles.

Prof. Idowu, a member of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), described animal nutrition as a critical link between feed production and food security, stressing that sustainable feeding strategies enhance livestock productivity, improve animal welfare, promote environmental sustainability and deliver healthier food to consumers.

The Animal Nutrition expert urged governments, researchers, and private-sector stakeholders to invest in the production and processing of alternative feed resources, intensify research into non-conventional feed ingredients and agro-industrial by-products, strengthen collaboration among researchers, farmers, feed manufacturers, and policymakers, and prioritise continuous professional development for animal nutritionists.

According to him, adopting innovative feeding strategies would improve the efficiency and competitiveness of Nigeria's livestock industry while making nutritious animal protein more accessible to the growing population.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, described the University's 114th Inaugural Lecture as another milestone in its commitment to advancing scholarship, innovation and research-driven solutions to national development challenges. He noted that the lecture was the fourth Inaugural Lecture from the Department of Animal Nutrition and the 14th from COLANIM.

Presenting the profile of the Inaugural Lecturer, Prof. Kehinde described him as a distinguished scholar who obtained all his Academic Degrees from FUNAAB, earning a Bachelor of Agriculture Degree in Animal Nutrition in 1994, a Master's Degree in Monogastric Animal Nutrition in 1999 and a Ph.D. in the same discipline in 2004.

The Vice-Chancellor said Prof. Idowu joined the University's service as a Graduate Assistant in 1997 and rose through the ranks to become a Professor of Monogastric Animal Nutrition in 2014.

He highlighted the scholar's extensive administrative experience, having served as Acting Head of the Department of Animal Nutrition, Chairman of the University Timetable and Examination Committee (TIMTEC), Director of the FUNAAB Distance Learning Centre, Director of the Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR), and currently as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).

Prof. Kehinde also noted that Prof. Idowu has published more than 70 journal articles and over 20 conference papers, while attracting several national and international research grants from organisations including TETFund, DelPHE, the EDULINK ACP-EU Cooperation Programme and the West African Network of Organic Agriculture and Research and Training (WANOART).

#SDG2, #SDG4, #SDG9

Reps Honour Disabled Ex Homeless Street Beggar turned Lawyer, Medical Student Record Breaker

The House of Representatives on Tuesday honoured Mr Abdulsalam Kamaldeen Idowu, a disabled and former homeless street beggar for sponsoring himself through school to become a lawyer and political science graduate and Miss Aarinola Olaiya of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife for attaining exceptional record in her academic pursuit.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the House Leader, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos-APC).

The House resolved to establish, by law, a Parliamentary Honours/Award System for recognition of extraordinary achievements by Nigerians.

Gbajabiamila while introducing the Honourees said that the motion was intended to reward excellence and encourage citizens who had elevated the ideals of the Nigerian society.

"When ordinary Nigerians do Extra ordinary things then they must be celebrated and all men and women of power and influence must rise and bow to them", he said .

"Nigerians and the world celebrate Messi and Ronaldo everyday for the amazing things they are able to do with their legs and today we must celebrate Abdulsalam for the amazing things he has been able to do without his legs", the House Leader added.

According to him, Abdulsalam Idowu displayed resilience and hard work by studying political science and law from street begging and despite being homeless for years sleeping at Idumota Motor Park in Lagos.

“Idowu lost his two legs to polio at the age of three, lost his mother at the age of four, started primary school at eight and resorted to street begging to raise money to buy uniforms, books and to feed.
“He begged for arms from primary through secondary school and was known on the streets of Lagos as a beggar.

“From street begging he bought GCE form in 2002, sat and passed the GCE and Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam and was subsequently admitted to study political science at the University of Lagos.

“As he was preparing to complete his first degree, he sat for the West African School Certificate Examination and JAMB.

“In his determination to become a lawyer, passed the exams studied law and was later admitted to Nigerian Law School in 2015 and was called to the Nigerian Bar on Nov. 30 2016,’’ Gbajabiamila said.

Gbajabiamila also said, “Aarinola, 24, who was admitted into OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun to study Medicine and Surgery in 2011, scored an excellent Cumulative Grade Point (CGPA) of 4.74 in her first year.

“Subsequently in her second through to the sixth year scored Distinctions and in Anatomy, Medical Biochemistry and Physiology (200L), Distinctions in Medical Biochemistry and Pharmacology (300L); Distinctions in Pathology and Pharmacology (400L).

 She capped it with "Distinctions in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mental Health and Dermatology (500L) and Distinctions in Surgery (600L), an achievement that had been elusive for a period of 28 years in the university.", the House Leader added.

Gbajabiamila informed his colleagues that Master Ayodele Dada of Adisa Bashua Street, Surulere 1, federal constituency, Lagos who was similarly introduced to the House and the world in same manner on the 26th of March, 2016, for breaking the 5.0 Cumulative Grade Point at graduation in the University of Lagos just concluded his service at the Central Bank of Nigeria and preparing to further his studies abroad after receiving several job offers and do believe that Aarinola and Abdulsalam will soar higher as well.

Other members who spoke glowingly of the achievements of the duo of Aarinola and AbdulSalam are: the Deputy Speaker, Lasun Yusuff (APC, Osun); Rep. Edward Pwajok (SAN); Rep. Sunday Adepoju (APC, Oyo); Rep. Johnson Oghuma (APC, Edo); Rep. Saheed Akinade Fijabi (APC, Oyo); Rep. Sodaguwo Festus-Omoni (PDP, Bayelsa); Rep. Dapo Lam-Adesina (APC, Oyo).

The Lawmakers gave the honourees a standing ovation while the Speaker of the House of Representatives shook hands of Aarinola and Abdulsalam and charged them to keep hope burning having succeeded in shattering the glass ceiling.  A larger number of lawmakers and staff of the National Assembly were seen taking pictures with the honourees.