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Use friendly policies towards pig production, don advises FG

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By Jeleel Olawale

A university don, Prof. Akinyele Adesehinwa, has called on government to adopt friendly policies towards the pig industry for poverty eradication and contribution to attainment of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Adesehinwa made the call on Wednesday at the 370th Inaugural Lecture of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife in collaboration with Institute of Agricultural Research & Training (IAR&T), Ibadan.

The title of the Inaugural Lecture was: “The Fox and the Piglet: A Paradox for untapped Resources”.

NewsDirect reports that the event was the first Inaugural Lecture on Livestock improvement and the 8th from IAR&T of the university.

According to the Professor of Animal Science and Production Systems, the pig industry is a means of job creation, sustainable source of income and poverty reduction.

He explained that Nigeria had the largest pig farm in the world located in Kano, established by the United African Company (UAC) in ’50s and ’60s which transported the meat by rail to Lagos at that time.

“But unfortunately that pig farm eventually folded up in the late ’70s due to religious prejudice and traditional taboos.

“If this farm had been allowed to continue, Nigeria would probably have become one of the leading pig-producing countries in the whole world,” he stated.

He called for cooperation of relevant agencies of government at all levels towards the development of a framework for the importation, preservation and use of imported genetic materials for the improvement of the existing stock.

“Appropriate policies should be put in place to favour the establishment of private pig meat processing companies/plants,” he said.

Adesehinwa said that the pig industry also serves as nutrition and food security arising from pork and its consumable by-products and source of organic manure for crop production.

“Therefore, it could be said that Nigeria has all it takes for self reliance in animal protein, but yet to utilise the opportunities to increase pigs contribution to the Gross Domestic Product(GDP).

“Federal Government needs to change from unfriendly attitude towards the sub-sector of pig production and by-product from what we generate from industry, the pork which is pig meat, as well as by-product.

“Pig is compared to the palm tree, where every part is useful to man; skin for soft leather, hair for brush, fat(lard) for cooking and for cosmetics.

“Blood and bones for animal feed, intestine for surgical suture material and for sausage casing, heart as organ transplant for humans, manure for maggot production for fish feeding, cooking gas production and soil enrichment and live pig for medical research,” he said.

Adesehinwa stated that the global trend in world meat production (2016-2020) indicated that pig meat (pork) is a very important source of animal protein in human diets.

He noted that investment in pork production has proven to be one of the most profitable livestock businesses because of its relatively low cost of production compared to other major livestock farming businesses.

According to him, pork is the world’s most widely eaten meat accounting for 36% of the total meat production, surpassing poultry 29%, beef and buffalo 27%, while goat and sheep only accounts for 5%. Pig has the highest percentage in terms of consumption in the entire world.

He stated further that the world’s pork industry has been on the rise since the 1970s and by 2022, global production surpassed 110 million metric tonnes per year.

Adesehinwa said that the pork industry includes all forms of pig meat, including flesh and processed meats.

“The value of trade in pig products around the world runs into billions of dollars every year.

“However, Africa enjoys less than 5 per cent of the “economic fat” generated in the pig-farming sector. Pig production is so valuable that it is described as an “assist for wealth” or “safety net in times of crises,” Adesehinwa said.

He noted that China, with a fifth of the world’s population, is both the largest producer and net importer of the pig products globally, using pork to feed its largest population.

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Education

Kwara Govt warns against illegal charges for Common Entrance exam

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The Kwara State Government has warned principals of Junior Secondary Schools and head teachers of primary schools across the state against illegal charges for the state placement examination (Common Entrance).

Any violator will face the full wrath of the law, the state Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, warned on Tuesday in her office in Ilorin.

She emphasized that the common entrance is free and government will not tolerate anyone or group of people extorting money, under any guise, from the pupils because the examination is fully sponsored by the state government.

Hajia Modibbo Kawu urged the principals and head teachers to desist from all acts that could dent the image of the state government.

She also cautioned them against aiding and abetting examination malpractices, stating that the present administration has zero tolerance for examination malpractices.

The commissioner implored the parents and guardians of the pupils to report any principal or head teacher with suspicious acts to her office directly, reiterating that her office is open to everyone.

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Education

UNILORIN appoints 40 new Professors

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By Saka Laaro, Ilorin

The University of Ilorin has announced the promotion of 40 of its senior academics to the rank of Professor.

The elevation, which was approved by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN, was sequel to the recommendations of the University Appointment and Promotion Committee.

A statement from the Office of the Registrar said that the 40 distinguished scholars were found to have excelled in the realms of teaching, research and community service and subsequently promoted to the highest rank obtainable in the academia.

The breakdown of the beneficiaries of the promotion exercise shows that 11 of the new Professors are produced by the Faculty of Agriculture and they are Prof. Sidiqat A. Aderinoye-Abdulwahab, Prof. L. L. Adefalu,Prof. F. O. Takim and Prof. A. A. Badmos.

Others are Prof. Foluke E. Sola-Ojo, Prof. W. A. Jimoh, Prof. M. I. Abubakar, Prof. T. H. Aliyu, Prof. R. O. Uddin II, Prof. T. O. Amusa and Prof. Mutiat A. Balogun.
From the Faculty of Arts are Prof. K. M. U. Gbodofu, Prof. Y. A. Abdullahi, Prof. Abosede R. O. Babatunde, Prof. Bolanle E. Arokoyo, and Prof. P. U. Nwosu while the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences produced Prof. A. S. Alabi, who teaches at the Department of Anatomy.
Two Lecturers from the Faculty of Clinical Sciences were also elevated to the rank of Professor and they are Prof. T. O. Olanrewaju and Prof. O. A. M. Adesiyun.

The Faculty of Communication & Information Science also produced two new Professors through Prof. Tinuke O. Oladele and Prof. Saudat S. Abdulbaqi while those promoted from the Faculty of Education are Prof. O. O. Okoji, Prof. Folakemi O. Adeniyi-Egbeola and Prof. Florence O. Daramola

From the Faculty of Engineering and Technology are Prof. A. T. Ajiboye, Prof. A. Y. Abdulrahman, Prof. M. O. Sumonu, Prof. Rasheedat M. Mahamood and Prof. T. K. Ajiboye.

The Faculty of Law produced one new Professor in the person of Prof. A. C. Onuora-Oguno.
The Faculty of Life Sciences produced four new professors. They are Prof. M. O. Nafiu, Prof. Faoziyat A. Sulaiman, Prof. Risikat Nike Ahmed, and Prof. I. O. Sule.

Those promoted from the Faculty of Management Sciences are Prof. M. A. Ajayi and Prof. Rihanat I. Abdulkadir as the Faculty of Physical Sciences also produced two new professors through Prof. Haleemat I. Adegoke and Prof. O. A. Abidoye.

The promotion of Prof. Monisola A. Tunde of the Department of Geography and Environmental Management was also confirmed while the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine also produced one of the new Professors in the person of Prof. Z. Jaji from the Department of Veterinary Anatomy.

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Education

Student Union election turns deadly: One student flees for life, parents killed in tragic attack 

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In the quiet town of Ekiadolor, the College of Education became a battleground as student politics turned deadly. Odunuga Gbenga, a promising student, found himself thrust into the chaos of campus conflict.

It all began innocently enough when Gbenga was nominated as a contestant for the Student Union presidency. Little did he know that this simple act would plunge him into a nightmare.

During the election, tensions ran high as rival factions clashed violently. What was supposed to be a democratic process spiraled into chaos, with reports of killings, rapes, and riots echoing across the school grounds.

In fear for his life, Gbenga fled the campus, seeking refuge in the familiar embrace of his parents’ home in Edo State. But safety eluded him as darkness fell on that fateful night.

Under the cover of midnight, a group of assailants descended upon Gbenga’s home, shattering the peace of the night. In a desperate bid for survival, Gbenga fought bravely, but the odds were against him.

Tragically, Gbenga’s valiant efforts were in vain. Though he managed to escape, his beloved parents were not as fortunate. The attackers, driven by unknown motives, mercilessly took the lives of Mr. Samuel Odunuga and Mrs. Taiwo Odunuga, leaving a family shattered and a community reeling in shock.

Since that harrowing night in 2023, the search for Gbenga has consumed the hearts and minds of his grieving family. Their plea echoes through the pages of this newspaper, a desperate cry for justice and closure in the face of unspeakable tragedy.

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