PBST Department Honours Professors Ariyo, Ojo for Outstanding Contributions to FUNAAB
Department of PBST at FUNAAB, celebrated the distinguished careers of two eminent scholars, Professor Omolayo Ariyo and Professor David Ojo, during a Send-Forth ceremony that honored their exceptional service to the Department and the University.
UBA CHIDINMA 
The Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Technology (PBST) at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), today celebrated the distinguished careers of two eminent scholars, Professor Omolayo Ariyo and Professor David Ojo, during a Send-Forth ceremony that honored their exceptional service to the Department and the University.
The Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Professor Babatunde Kehinde, expressed his deep appreciation for the invaluable contributions of both professors. He commended their pivotal roles in advancing FUNAAB’s tripartite mandate of teaching, research, and extension services. Praising their profound knowledge of the University’s foundation and history, the Vice-Chancellor extended a special invitation to Professor Ariyo to deliver a Valedictory Lecture in the near future.
Speaking at the event, the Head of PBST, Professor Francis Sowemimo, congratulated the retirees, highlighting their remarkable impact on the Department and the University as a whole. He encouraged the professors to remain connected with the institution, reminding them that while their official journey may have ended, they are always welcome to visit.
Several prominent figures at the University also paid glowing tributes to the honourees. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Professor Kola Adebayo; Dean of the College of Plant Science and Crop Production (COLPLANT), Professor Bola Senjobi; Deputy Dean of COLPLANT, Professor Adewale Salau; and Head of the Department of Soil Science and Land Management, Professor Jamiu Azeez, all praised Professors Ariyo and Ojo for their unwavering dedication to academic excellence and integrity. They shared personal anecdotes, describing both professors as icons who have left an indelible mark on the University and the wider academic community.
In their heartfelt responses, Professors Ariyo and Ojo expressed gratitude to the Department and College for the recognition. They offered words of encouragement to those still in active service, urging them to continue advancing the University’s mission in alignment with the vision of its founding fathers.
Professor Omolayo Ariyo, who transferred his service to FUNAAB in 1990, previously held key leadership roles, including Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development). Professor David Ojo, currently a Consultant for the African Development Bank (AfDB) Soybean Project at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, has been contributing significantly to enhancing soybean production across several African nations.
The ceremony’s highpoint included the presentation of gifts to the retiring professors, the cutting of a retirement cake, and the celebration of Professors Justina Porbeni and Emmanuel Idehen as newly promoted professors within COLPLANT.
This event underscored the lasting legacies of Professors Ariyo and Ojo, whose careers continue to inspire future generations of academics and researchers at FUNAAB and beyond.
