FUNAAB Mourns Passing of Pioneer COLERM Dean, Emeritus Prof. Seth Ajayi

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has announced the passing of Emeritus Professor Seth Sunday Ajayi, the Pioneer Dean of the College of Environmental Resources Management (COLERM), and a distinguished scholar in Wildlife Management and Conservation.

Emeritus Prof. Ajayi was Africa’s first Professor of Wildlife Management and a trailblazer in environmental and wildlife studies on the continent. His pioneering contributions include:

• Establishment of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Management at the University of Ibadan in 1981, the first department of its kind in any African university, where he served as Pioneer Head of Department (1981–1987).
• Appointment as the Pioneer Dean of COLERM at FUNAAB in 1988, shaping the foundation and growth of the college.
• Serving as Pioneer Director of the Centre for Environmental Protection and Natural Resources in 1999, promoting research and practical solutions in environmental conservation.

Emeritus Prof. Ajayi’s career was marked by academic excellence, institutional development, and groundbreaking contributions to wildlife management and environmental studies. His passing represents the loss of a visionary leader whose work has left an enduring legacy in African environmental scholarship and conservation.

FUNAAB joins the global academic community in mourning the death of a pioneer whose influence will continue to shape generations of environmental scientists, policymakers, and conservationists.