FUNAAB Mourns as Pioneer Dean of COLERM, Emeritus Prof. Seth Ajayi, Passes On

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has officially announced the passing of Emeritus Professor Seth Sunday Ajayi, the pioneer Dean of the College of Environmental Resources Management (COLERM) and a world-renowned authority in Wildlife Management and Conservation.

A legendary figure in African academia, Emeritus Professor Ajayi held the distinction of being Africa’s first Professor of Wildlife Management. His career was defined by a series of historic firsts that shaped the landscape of environmental studies across the continent.

Professor Ajayi was instrumental in the foundational development of specialized academic disciplines in Nigeria. In 1981, he spearheaded the establishment of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Management at the University of Ibadan—the first department of its kind in any African university—where he served as the Pioneer Head of Department until 1987.

In 1988, he transitioned to FUNAAB, where he was appointed the Pioneer Dean of COLERM, laying the groundwork for the college's current status as a center of excellence. His leadership extended to the establishment of the Centre for Environmental Protection and Natural Resources in 1999, where he also served as the inaugural Director.