The Vice Chancellor of the First Technical University, Ibadan, Professor Ayobami Salami, will on Wednesday March 17, 2021, receive the ‘Champion in Climate Change Research’ award.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Adesola Ajayi, will also receive the award, alongside 15 other seasoned scholars who have worked in various areas of climate change.
The award to be given at the event holding at the University of Ibadan is, according to the organisers, in recognition of their meritorious services on Climate Change Research.
“This award is proudly supported by the Association of Commonwealth Universities, UK, under CIRCLE Program being funded by DFID, UK,” the organisers said in a statement.
They noted that two major institutions – the Deptartment of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja; and oil giant, Chevron, will be decorated as ‘Climate Impact Vanguards.’
The other ‘Champions are Profs. Timothy Ipoola Olabiyi, Labode Popoola, Eme Owoaje, Olumiyiwa Togun, Olanrewaju Olaniyan, Oyeronke Adunni Odunola and Ayodele Samuel Jegede.
Others are Profs Kolawole Adebayo, Olufemi Martins Adesope, Alice Romokek Nte, Samuel Bankole Arokoyu and
Profs Happiness Ogba Oselebe, Johnny Ogunji, Philippa C. Ojimelukwe as well as Dr Jude Chidozie Nnaji will also receive the award.
One of the aims of the Climate Impacts Research Capacity Leadership
(CIRCLE) Programme is to strengthen the capacity of African scientists to undertake research on climate change and its local impacts on development.
Professor Salami was appointed the Pioneer Vice-chancellor of Nigeria’s premier Technical University, First Technical University, Ibadan in May 2017. He became a Professor of Environmental Science, at the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife in 2003. He was the Pioneer Head of Environmental Science, University of the Gambia, The Gambia (2000-2001); the Director, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, OAU (2006-2010); Senior Research Advisor, Health, Safety and Environment, Corporate Environment Department, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Port Harcourt (2010-2011); and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), OAU (2011-2016).
He has has obtained numerous grants from several organizations such as the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Abuja; Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Ecological Fund Office, Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, The Presidency, Abuja; National Centre for Remote Sensing, Jos; International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), The Netherlands; International Secretariat of System Analysis for Research and Training- International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), Washington D.C.; UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission; United Nations Development Program (UNDP); United Nations Environment Program (UNEP); International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy; Ramboll Natura AB, Sweden; Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and International Steering Committee for Global Mapping (ISCGM), Japan among others.
On his part, Ajayi started his career as a Graduate Assistant at Obafemi Awolowo University in 1993 and rose through the ranks to become a Professor in 2010. As an expert and acknowledged research leader, he has vast research and industry experience on seed systems, agricultural innovations and enterprise development, research management, agricultural policy dialogue and mentorship of early career researchers (ECRs).
