Nigeria’s first female Professor of Animal Breeding, Genetics & Biotechnology, Olufunmilayo Ayoka Adebambo is also the first Ph.D. degree holder in Animal Breeding & Genetics. She served as the first female Dean of the College of Animal Science & Livestock Production for six years and was among the first women to represent the Senate on the University Council.
With over forty years of value-added service in her specialties, our Celebrant is the first to introduce Animal Biotechnology application into University Students’ Curriculum in 1998. In her first 16 years at the Institute of Agricultural Research & Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, she successfully developed improved Indigenous Pig Breeds for Nigeria.
With her transfer of service to the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Professor Olufunmilayo Adebambo initiated the establishment of Nigeria’s first Department of Animal Breeding & Genetics, serving as its pioneer Head for seven years. She also made history.
Her research, supported by institutions such as FUNAAB, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the International Livestock Research Institute, led to the official registration of the first improved indigenous livestock breed in Nigeria by the Nigerian Crop Varieties, Livestock & Fishes Registration Council in 2018. Further fellowship awards have come from the Association of Commonwealth Universities, Royal Society of England, and Indian Technical Cooperation, among others.
Despite her formal retirement at the mandatory age of 70 years, our Celebrant continues to serve in advisory capacities, including the African Union–Inter-African Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources and Nigeria’s National Animal Genetic Resources Advisory Group. In the same vein, she is the Principal Investigator for the Indigenous Poultry Breeds Development for Nigeria and Co-Principal Investigator for the African Chicken Genetic Gain Project, Nigeria.
Credited with over 200 research publications on Animal Breeds Development and Biotechnology Application to Livestock Research & Development, our Celebrant has mentored more than 50 Animal Breeders at the Master’s and Doctorate levels in Nigeria, a number of whom are gainfully engaged and recognised globally.
She is a Life Member, Genetics Society of Great Britain; Fellow, Genetics Society of Nigeria; Fellow, Animal Science Association of Nigeria; Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Animal Science; and Member, Nigerian Society for Animal Production.
Severally acknowledged for her feats, our Celebrant is a recipient of the Distinguished Animal Scientist Award of the Animal Science Association of Nigeria; Distinguished Achiever Award of the Biotechnology Society of Nigeria; Excellent Research Award by the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science; and Research Productivity Award of FUNAAB (twice).
With a life-long dedication to scientific advancement, her legacies as a pioneer and mentor remain an inspiration in the fields of animal science and genetics.
She is married with children.
Ladies & Gentlemen, we are privileged to invite Emeritus Professor Olufunmilayo Ayoka Adebambo to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Award of Excellence for Outstanding Contributions to Research, Innovation and Value-Chain Development towards Food Security.
Hearty Congratulations, Madam!