08/05/2026
Prof. Isaac Adebayo Highlights Biotechnology’s Role in Food Security, Healthcare During Valedictory Lecture
The Federal University of Technology Akure FUTA has celebrated the outstanding contributions and meritorious service of Professor Isaac Abayomi Adebayo as he formally retired from active service after over three decades of dedication to teaching, research, mentorship, and university administration.
While delivering his valedictory lecture on the 7th of May, 2026, Prof. Adebayo emphasized the critical role of biotechnology in transforming agriculture, healthcare, and industrial development globally.
Speaking on emerging trends and innovations in biotechnology, the don explained that advances in genetic engineering, precision agriculture, bioinformatics, and nanotechnology are reshaping modern science and providing sustainable solutions to global challenges.
According to him, biotechnology has significantly improved agricultural productivity through genetically modified crops and precision farming techniques capable of increasing yields, reducing pesticide use, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
He further noted that the integration of biotechnology with digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and data mining is accelerating discoveries in medicine and biological sciences. Predictive algorithms, he said, now enable scientists to identify gene functions and develop targeted therapies more efficiently.
Prof. Adebayo also highlighted the growing impact of biotechnology in healthcare, particularly in gene therapy, monoclonal antibody production, and marine pharmaceuticals. These innovations, he explained, are contributing to the development of more effective treatments for cancer, blood disorders, and other life-threatening diseases.
Describing the future of biotechnology as one driven by “programmable biology,” he stated that agriculture, medicine, and manufacturing would increasingly operate on shared genetic and technological principles.
He therefore called for increased investment in biotechnology research, innovation, and manpower development in Nigeria and other developing countries to fully harness the opportunities presented by the rapidly evolving field. He also urged universities, governments, and private sector stakeholders to strengthen collaboration aimed at promoting scientific research, encouraging innovation, and supporting the commercialization of biotechnology products for national development.
Prof. Adebayo joined FUTA on November 24, 1992, as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Animal Production and Health. Through years of commitment and academic excellence, he rose to the rank of Senior Lecturer in 2003 and attained full professorship in 2012.
Widely regarded as an accomplished scholar and dependable mentor, he made significant contributions to veterinary medicine and public health in Nigeria. He participated actively in several national intervention programmes, including the National Trypanosomosis Campaign, Avian Influenza Campaign, and the COVID-19 awareness campaign between 2019 and 2021.
He was also credited with spearheading the establishment of the Veterinary Clinic and Ambulatory Service in the Department of Animal Production and Health at FUTA in 2008. In addition, he contributed immensely to curriculum development by designing several Animal Health-related courses within the department.
Prof. Adebayo began his academic journey at Christ School before proceeding to the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training for his OND programme. He later obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and Master of Veterinary Medicine (MVM) degrees from the University of Ibadan. He subsequently completed a split-site Ph.D. programme at Tuskegee University under the Ford Foundation Scholarship in 2004.
Beyond academics, the retiring professor served the university in several administrative capacities. He became the Departmental Postgraduate Coordinator in 2004 and later chaired the Students’ Disciplinary (Misconduct) Panel from 2013 to 2026. He also served as Chairman of the Agricultural Machinery and Mechanization Committee of the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology (SAAT) in 2015.
Prof. Adebayo is a member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Nigerian Institute for Science and Technology, and the Nigerian Society for Animal Production.
At the valedictory lecture, A key Member of the FUTA Biotechnology Group Professor Boboye paid glowing tributes to Professor Adebayo describing him as a go getter and researcher par excellence.
In a tribute, the Head of the Department of Animal Production and Health , Professor Samuel Aro described Prof. Adebayo as “a mentor par excellence, counsellor, dependable confidant, and compassionate father figure to students and colleagues alike.”
Colleagues, students, and associates of the professor also took turns extolling his virtues and contributions, while wishing him a fulfilling and blissful retirement from active service in the university.
