International Research Group Beams Spotlight on Prof. Jacob Owoyemi

International Research Group on wood protection beams its spotlight on FUTA's Associate Professor, Jacob Owoyemi. 

The International Research Group on Wood Protection, IRGWP in its September 2023 Newsletter beamed its spotlight on an Associate Professor in the Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA ,Dr Jacob Owoyemi.

 IRG in the introduction to the spotlight described Dr Jacob Owoyemi as a Corresponding Member and supporter of the IRG for many years. 

 The International Research Group on Wood Protection (known until 10 June 2004 as The International Research Group on Wood Preservation) (IRG) was launched as an independent research group in January 1969. The IRG-WP focuses on research, technologies and innovations that protect wood-based products against deterioration, which also play a significant role in conserving forest resources.

Indeed Dr Owoyemi has a long standing relationship with IRGWP which has continued to have salutary advantage on the international outlook of FUTA. 

In 2022, a postgraduate Student from the Department of Forestry and wood Technology Opara Emmanuel Uchechukwu ,who was then being supervised by Dr Owoyemi , won the Ron Crockfot Award.  

The Ron Cockcroft Award (RCA) is a merit-based programme of the International Research Group on Wood Protection ( IRG -WP) to promote international awareness of developments and innovations in research in wood protection. He is the first FUTA FWT graduate to win the award, the fourth Nigerian to be ever awarded and the second Nigerian to win it through a research conducted in a Nigerian university. 

The spotlight on Dr Awoyemi , reproduced below, which tells about his life and scholarly contributions to his area of core competence ,has further deepened the existing relationship between FUTA and IRGWP with headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden.

IRGWPBIOS : DR JACOB OWOYEMI 

The Beginning

I was born and raised in Akure, the Capital City of Ondo State, in Southwestern Nigeria. My educational journey started with primary education in 1965 and thereafter I proceeded to secondary Level in 1971. In 1974 I gained admission into Technical College where I studied furniture and woodwork, which marked the start of my adventure into wood and wood processing. After working briefly in a wood processing factory, I got admitted to study woodwork Technology at the College of Education from 1980 to 1983 after which I got a job as woodwork teacher, a job I did for five years. I later joined the service of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria as a Technologist in the Laboratory and Mechanical Wood Processing workshop.

Family Life

I was born into a fairly large family and was the second of eleven children. The large size of my family affected my education as I had to work and study at the same time. 

I got married to my wife Olanike in 1985. She was a school teacher who later joined the Federal Ministry of Interior as a Correctional Officer and rose to the rank of an Assistant Controller before she retired and now engaged in church ministerial assignment and running a Nursery Primary School. We have three grown up children: two boys and a girl who are a Robotic Engineer, Medical Doctor and Library Officer respectively.

We spend most of our extracurricular time pastoring a church and mentoring the people of God under our care, as well as reaching out to members and student members on basic spiritual and physical needs.

My University Experience

My activities in the University commenced in 1988 at the Department of Forestry and Wood Technology. I collaborated with the Forestry and Wood Technology research team of my university right from the laboratory and workshop, assisting in conducting practical classes and research works till 2010. During my years in the Workshop/laboratory as technologist, I was involved in conducting practical in wood drying and protection, wood structures, sawmilling and machining among others. I rose through the rank to become Chief Technologist on 1st October, 2004.

I obtained my PhD with specialization in wood protection in 2009, which led me into the university main academic stream as a lecturer in 2011. I engaged in Teaching and Research with focus in wood utilization and protection. I rose through the rank to attain professorial cadre in 2020.

I have supervised many undergraduate projectss, twelve master’s dissertations and six PhD theses. I have also been a member of many professional bodies and have assisted in reviewing academic and professional journals locally and internationally. I have also served as an external examiner to other institutions. I have published extensively in academic journals and conference proceedings both locally and internationally. Conferences attended include International Future of Panel Industries in India 2012, NOCMAT Conference in Brazil 2022, IRG47 Conference in Lisbon Portugal 2016, and many local conferences. My department: Forestry and Wood Technology, FUTA is well known for training high level professionals in wood science and technology. In recognition of my service to the university, I was honored with a Long Service Award in 2019. 

Research 

My research focus is on Wood Products Technology with special focus on wood utilization, wood protection, wood modification, wood drying, wood composites, furniture design and production. The outputs of my research have been valuable and outstanding in solving problems of wood wastes, agricultural waste, paper waste utilization in the manufacture of value-added panel products. I have been able to map out safe zones and red-zones prone to wood destruction from to termites’ activities in Ondo State Nigeria. I have researched into the assessment of basic and structural characteristics of some selected wood species for performance evaluation. I have worked extensively on the protection of wood against biological and physical agents including termites' attack, fungi infestation, and fire through thermal, chemical, and oil-treatment. Another notable research is on the use of renewable energy from sunlight in the drying of wood. My innovative research works have been published in 96 publications comprising 4 chapters in book, 32 conference proceedings, and 60 journal articles published in various journals both within and outside the country.

IRG and Wood Protection

One area of wood science technology, which captured my interest has been wood utilization and protection. When I got admission for my Master’s degree, I chose wood protection as the area of research and so my study for both my Master’s and PhD degrees were on preservation of wood against termites’ attack and my research focus has been around this over the years.  

My first contact with IRG was through corresponding online, after which I attended IRG47 in Lisbon Portugal during which I presented paper on the use of bitumen application as protection for wood against termites’ attack. Unfortunately, due to lack of funding I have not been able to attend again personally, but have been sending conference paper contributions, which were published. In 2022, my postgraduate student; Emmanuel Opara was one of the recipients of Ron Cockcroft Award.

Extracurricular

In my early years, I showcased my exceptional versatility by clinching the Gold Medal in Volleyball while representing Ogun State at the National Sports Festival held in Makurdi in 1977. This achievement highlighted my commitment to both academic and sporting pursuits. I extended my impact beyond academia and into public life, receiving the Award of Excellence for my dedication to eradicating cultism and promoting positive values. Alongside my academic pursuit, I am a pastor in the Christ Apostolic Church Mission. I showcased a multifaceted talent once again in 2016 when I was bestowed with the Meritorious Service Award from C.A.C. Oke-Ilese, Akure for my contributions as a Principal Organist which underscored my artistic and cultural significance.

Aside my academic and pastoral activities, I have taken special interest is in growing trees both for beautification and as wind-cover for lives and property. I also take delight in gardening.

This bio was written for the September 2023 IRG Newsletter and culled from there.

MySchoolNews reporting.