FUNAAB Don Urges FG to Exploit Rare Earth Deposits in Lagos, Ogun

Professor Adewole Gbadebo, an expert in Environmental Geology and Geochemistry at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has called on the Federal Government to harness heavy Rare Earth Elements (REEs) discovered in Lagos and Ogun States to bolster the national economy.

Delivering the University’s 112th Inaugural Lecture on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, titled “Rock and Soil Fingerprints on Water: My Groundwater Odyssey,” Prof. Gbadebo highlighted the strategic role these minerals play in global technology and industry.

To ensure Nigeria remains competitive in the global mineral market, the scholar recommended the establishment of a dedicated regulatory agency. This body would oversee the sustainable exploration of REEs, ensuring they are exploited for maximum national benefit.

Addressing his primary field of research, Prof. Gbadebo warned that while groundwater is a vital lifeline, it could become a "death time bomb" if poorly managed. He identified industrial pollution, over-extraction, and climate variability as primary drivers of contamination.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Babatunde Kehinde, noted the significance of the event, marking it as the first Inaugural Lecture from the Department of Geology and the 15th from the College of Environmental Resources Management (COLERM).

Prof. Kehinde commended Prof. Gbadebo’s 30-year career, citing his publication of over 100 academic papers and his practical impact in facilitating more than 200 community boreholes to provide potable water to the public.