Dr Stephen was presented the award for his immense contribution to Livestock production in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.
The 55th Anniversary Public Lecture and Award Ceremony of The Association of Veterinary Medical Students’, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan was held on the 21st November 2018.
The theme of the lecture was “Incessant Cases of Fulani Herdsmen Attack; Role of a Veterinarian”. The lecture which was delivered by Dr Stephen Adejoro corroborate with one of LIFA’s initiative which is to mitigate disaster and strategically provide sustainable solutions through capacity development of the concerned persons or community.
The award ceremony took a grand style as the President and Founder of LIFA- Dr Stephen Adejoro with other 6 awardees were presented with an award of “Distinguished Alumnus”. Dr Stephen was presented the award for his immense contribution to Livestock production in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.
Other awardees are; Dr S.O. ADEYEMI, (CEO SOPTIMAL VENTURES), Dr Bosade OGUNLANA (CEO BRIDAL SHOWERS), Dr C.O. AIKI RAJI (Head, Experimental Animal Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan), Prof. OLADELE Omolade (Director, VTH, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UI), Prof. ADEYEMO Olanike K. (Deputy Vice Chancellor; Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnership, university of Ibadan.) and Prof. DIPEOLU Morenikeji (Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, FUNAAB).
The dean of the faculty, Prof. OLOPADE James while giving the welcome address, described Dr Stephen Adejoro as a man of consistency. He recalled that he first met Dr Stephen during his IT at Folawiyo Farms when Dr Stephen was consulting for the farm. He further said that his consistency in area of record keeping helped him scaled through the profession and as such still makes him relevant in the field today. The chairman of the day, Dr Adejuyigbe Dayo; President, NVMA Oyo state Chapter also described Dr Stephen as a great positive contributor to the development of the livestock industry.
Dr Stephen Adejoro in his lecture traced the incessant herdsmen attack to the onset of climate change some eighteen years ago ( i.e. year 2000) when the near earth temperature started to rise due to global warming. Although the problem had been on in Nigeria, it only escalated from round year 1999 and 2000 at the escalation of global climate change, he said.
Dr Stephen emphasized the aftermath of climate change effect on the Hinterland Rivers and lakes in the Sahel regions where these animals are mostly pastured drove pastoralist further down to the Guinea savanna region where the animal unguided, foraged on grass and economic crops of the settled arable farmers, mostly in the Benue, Plateau and the Taraba states in Nigeria.
In fact the menace of herders and farmers conflicts were also recorded, all over the southern regions of the country where nutritious grass grow, and this had been made possible because of the disuse of the cattle trade route originally constructed for pastoralist to move their cattle to the demarcated grazing reserves in various location in Nigeria, he added.
Dr Stephen noted that Pastoralists now move around in farm land locations with the risk of their stock grazing and destroying economic crops owned by farmers who are mostly Christians in the above named states as well as in other locations in the southern regions of Nigeria. The conflict in Nigeria was more prevalent in the Western Sahel region and led to the killing of thousands of people and numerous herds of the Fulanis herdsmen.
Dr Stephen Adejoro likened the role of Veterinarian to the activities of the NGO; Livestock Industry Foundation for Africa in which the NGO seeks to promote and encourage the development of a social enterprise that will proffer solution to the challenges facing the state on the perennial conflicts between arable crop farmers and Fulani herdsmen (pastoralists) in the state. A social enterprise that will create social project concept to empower pastoralists and add value to their milk production through the creation of milk collecting centers in three villages in identified local government, thereby diverting the attention of pastoralists from conflicts and as such, veterinarian can take prominent roles.
In a response to the lecture given by Dr Stephen Adejoro at the event, Prof Oyeyemi described his approach of solution as achievable and sustainable. Dr Bosade and Dr Adeyemi also reckoned with the prospect of developing a social enterprise for the resolve of conflic. Dr Bosade also made call for our veterinarians to participate in politics so as to bring these solutions to the Government in other to effect them for a sustainable conflict resolution.
The students were amazed and equally challenged by the awards and lecture as a few of them troop to meet these icons for future prospect and expression of interest to join LIFA as volunteers so as to contribute their quota in the development of livestock industry.
Dr Stephen Adejoro continues to pave way for the profession and the younger generation challenging them to be active in the development process of the livestock industry as he himself is not retired but very much energetic than ever before. Livestock Industry Foundation for Africa celebrates this achievement as a laudable one and will continue to channel her resources towards the development of livestock industry to ensure food security and zero hunger.
To access the full lecture note on the theme “Incessant Cases of Fulani Herdsmen Attack; Implications on Livestock Food Security in the Nation- Role of A Veterinarian” please click on the format PDF or PowerPoint.
