Olanike Kudirat Adeyemo, is a Nigerian professor of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine at University of Ibadan. She is the current Deputy Vice Chancellor (research, innovation and strategic partnership), the first person to attain the role at the University.^[1] Her research areas are on Aquatic toxicology, Aquatic veterinary medicine and fish food safety.

Olanike's research is focused on Aquatic and Wildlife Epidemiology and Toxicology, Food Safety and Global Public Health. In 2011, Adeyemo was appointed an epidemiological and toxicological expert on the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee (JECFA).^[2]

In 2019 she was named a Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries,^[3] a Fellow at the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Mitigation. In 2016, she was named a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science.^[4] In 2012, she was named a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences.^[5] In 2010, she was named a Fellow of the African Scientific Institute (California, USA)^[6] and listed in ASI's 2011 edition of “Black Achievers in Science and Technology.^{[citation needed]} In 2007 she was named a Fellow of the Eisenhower Fellowship Program^[7] and in 2002 she was named a Fellow of the Leadership for Environment and Development program in the UK.^{[citation needed]}

Early life and education

Adeyemo was born 17 July 1970 to a family from Oyo State. She had her secondary education at Ahmadiyya Grammar School, obtaining her West African Examination Council results in 1986. She got her first degree in Veterinary Medicine from University of Ibadan in 1994. She also obtained her masters and doctorate degrees from the same institution in 1998 and 2005 respectively. She was made an associate professor in 2008, but became a full professor in 2011. She is a member of several professional bodies including Society of Toxicology, World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association, Wildlife Disease Association, Nigerian Academy of Science.^[8][9]

Career

Olanike Adeyemo started her academic career as a lecturer 2 in 1999 at the department of Vetirinary public health and preventive medicine at the University of Ibadan after her Masters degree program. In 2002, she was promoted to lecturer grade 1 until 2005 when she was made an Assistant professor. In 2008 she was made an Associate professor up till 2011 when she was promoted to the rank of Professor.^[10] In March 2017, Adeyemo was elected into the newly created office of Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnership. Previously, she was the head of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine department.^[11] In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Olanike was appointed the Chairperson of the Oyo State COVID-19 Decontamination and Containment Team.^[12][13] Adeyemo is the first Nigerian woman in the field of Aquatic Veterinary medicine. Speaking to The Punch on the manly nature of her discipline, she described herself as not being woman-like, explaining that she gets along better with men. She went further to explain that she got to the top of her profession through hardwork, and gender has little to do with it.^[14] Executive member, of the Global Young Academy (2013), member, African Academy of Sciences’ Commission on Women in Science in Africa (2014-date), member, Mauritius Declaration on Ocean Sciences (2016), member, Nigeria Academy of Science Committee on Science Advice in Africa (2019), Expert Group of the High-Level Panel on Building a Sustainable Ocean Economy (2019).

Awards and Recognitions

Olanike Adeyemo was awarded Scientist of the Year in 2020 by the International Achievements Research Center (IARC).^[15][16] She was Featured in “Women in Science - Inspiring Stories from Africa”, a publication of Network of African Science Academies (NASAC), which profiled thirty women from eighteen countries across Africa, who have excelled in various STEM careers.

Personal Life

Adeyemo is married to a pharmacist, and has three sons and one daughter.

Selected Scholarly Articles

She has publications in academic journals, as well as being a reviewer to internationally recognized academic journals.

• Agbede, S.A.; Adedeji, O.B.; Adeyemo, O.K. and Olufemi, B.E. (2001). Fish food development, safety and security in Nigeria. Proceedings of the USDA/USAID/NIGERIA sponsored international conference on Food safety and security in Nigeria, held at IITA, Ibadan-Nigeria between 1st - 3rd August 2001. 58-69. USA