OYSCATECH Chief Lecturer, Dr. Wasiu Babatunde Bello, To Deliver 3rd Inaugural Lecture On Soil Nutrition

All is now set for the 3rd Inaugural Lecture of the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, OYSCATECH, Igbo-Ora, as the institution’s Governing Council presents one of its finest scholars, Dr. Wasiu Babatunde Bello, for the prestigious academic honour.

The Inaugural Lecture series, instituted by the Rector, Professor Akinola Kehinde Akinlabi, as a platform to showcase intellectual leadership and research impact, will hold on Tuesday, 20th October, 2026 by 12:00 noon at the institution.

Dr. Bello, a Chief Lecturer and Doctor of Soil Science in the Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management, Faculty of Plant and Environmental Sciences, will be speaking on a topic central to Nigeria’s food security challenge:

“FEEDING THE SOIL, NOURISHING THE NATION: The Diversity Principle in Soil Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture.”

A TEACHER OF TEACHERS WITH GLOBAL EXPOSURE

Asako News gathered that Dr. Bello is not just a lecturer but a farmer, a teacher of teachers, and a community leader.

Born on 16th December, 1970 in Surulere, Lagos, he attended Urban Day Grammar School, Ibadan (1982-1987) and Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo (1987-1989). He bagged http://B.Sc. Agriculture (Soil Science) in 1997 and http://M.Sc. Agronomy (Soil Science) in 2001 both from the University of Ibadan, PGDE from University of Ado-Ekiti in 2002, and Ph.D. Soil Fertility from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) in 2015. He also holds a Diploma in Data Processing from OYSCATECH ICT Centre (2015).

He started his teaching career at Olivet Baptist High School and Oyo State College of Education Model High School, Oyo (1999-2006) where he won Best Teacher of the Year 2005 and 2006, Best Block Co-ordinator 2004-2006 and was promoted to Senior Master in 2005.

Between 2006 and 2008, he served as a Volunteer Lecturer under the Technical Aid Corps (TAC), Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at Mekelle University, Ethiopia, where he taught in the Faculty of Dryland Agriculture and Natural Resources.

He joined OYSCATECH in 2009 and has risen to Chief Lecturer.

He also served in the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) 2002-2003 and Federal Government Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP) 2001-2002.

SCHOLARSHIP AND RESEARCH IMPACT

Dr. Bello is a Registered Soil Scientist (NISS/RSS/2021/2011) and member of several professional bodies including Soil Science Society of Nigeria (SSSN), Organic Agriculture Society of Nigeria, Forestry Association of Nigeria, Agricultural Society of Nigeria, and Society for Agriculture, Environmental Resources and Management.

His research focus for over 15 years has been Integrated Nutrient Management – the combination of organic manures (poultry manure, cow dung, pig manure), inorganic NPK fertilizers, crop residues and mulching to restore soil fertility.

He is the author of TETFund-sponsored textbook, Basic Principles of Soil Science (2022) and co-author of an Animal Husbandry Textbook for Senior Secondary Schools.

He has to his credit over 100 scholarly publications, including over 75 journal articles, 3 books/monographs and over 30 conference proceedings. His research has demonstrated how poultry manure, cattle dung and NPK 15:15:15 can increase yield of maize, okra, tomato, pepper, sesame, cucumber, cowpea and rice in the derived savannah zone of Oyo State. He has supervised 48 OND and 21 HND students.

He won the 2021/2022 TETFund Institution-Based Research (IBR) Grant for research on “The Myth and Sustainability of Integrated Nutrient Management in Maize Production and Soil Restoration.”

SERVICE TO THE COLLEGE

Dr. Bello is currently Director, OYSCATECH Global Consult; Chairman, Research and Publication Committee; Chairman, OYSCATECH Garri Production Committee; Chairman, Local Organising Committee for the 8th Annual Conference of the Association of Seed Scientists of Nigeria (ASSN) hosted by OYSCATECH in 2024; and Co-Coordinator for Women in Agriculture Technical Education and Apprenticeships in Nigeria (WATEA).

He has served in various capacities including Head of Department, Soil Science and Land Resources Management, Acting Dean, Faculty of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Chairman, Committee of Deans and Directors, Chief Editor, OYSCATECH Journals and Proceedings, among others.

His leadership has attracted awards including Outstanding Leadership Award in 2022 by Heritage College of Health Technology and Social Sciences for integrity, transparency and accountability, and Merit Award of Excellence for his contribution to Islam in 2014.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The lecture is expected to examine why Nigerian soils are “hungry” and how the “Diversity Principle” – mixing organic and inorganic nutrient sources – remains the cheapest and most sustainable way to nourish the soil and by extension, nourish the nation.

The lecture is open to farmers, students, academics, traditional rulers, and members of the general public.

The event will be hosted by the Rector, Professor Akinola Kehinde Akinlabi, on behalf of the Governing Council and Academic Board. The Registrar, Mr. R. F. A. Adeniji, and other members of Management will also be present.

According to the Dean, Faculty of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Dr. Amao Samson, members of the College Community, researchers, farmers, students and the general public are invited to participate in the academic feast.