Campus News

Intensify research on climate-resilient soil management –Olaniyan

A Professor of Pedology and Land Management at the University of Ilorin, John Olajide Olaniyan, has urged the University to intensify academic activities such as workshops, training and research, aimed at finding solutions to the adverse effects of climate change and uncontrolled land usage on the quality of soil in the country.

Prof. Olaniyan, who teaches at the Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, made the call last Thursday (February 6, 2025) while delivering the 275th Inaugural Lecture of the University at the University Auditorium.

According to the Inaugural Lecturer, this call becomes vital as the soil “holds profound secrets and influences that shape our agricultural practices, environmental sustainability, and the very foundation of our existence, the source of food.”

Prof.  Olaniyan, whose lecture is the 5th from the Department of Agronomy, and the 3rd from the Soil Science Unit of the Department, said understanding Land Management issues becomes important as “the diversity of life within soils, including microorganisms, fungi and various invertebrates, contributes to the overall biodiversity of ecosystems.”

The don, who had earlier worked as a Land Use Planning Officer and Project Manager at the Kwara State Directorate of National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), had been involved in over three decades of research, focusing on Soil Survey and Land Evaluation, especially with two broad themes of Soil Properties and their Management, Soil Pollution and Water Quality, in addition to miscellaneous soil studies.  These studies, Olaniyan stressed “underscore the importance of integrated and context specific approaches in soil conservation, carbon management and weed control.”

The Inaugural Lecturer further explained some identified threats and challenges of sustainable soil management to include, lack of access to advanced soil analysis techniques, urbanisation and land use changes, climate change issues, especially, rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns, soil degradation and erosion due to deforestation, intensive agricultural practices and many others.

Prof. Olaniyan stressed that though the field of Pedology and Land Management is a rigorous profession, it “plays crucial roles in understanding and sustainably utilising our precious land resources.”

In order to mitigate the threats and challenges facing sustainable quality soil management, the Inaugural Lecturer made specific recommendations.  He said, “Given the University of Ilorin’s role as a centre for research and academic excellence, I believe the institution can make a significant impact by implementing targeted solutions”. 

Prof. Olaniyan explained these solutions to include, investing in research focused on climate-resilient soil management, establishing demonstration farms within the University to showcase sustainable land management strategies, organising workshops and training programmes for farmers and stakeholders on “climate-smart agricultural techniques such as conservation tillage, agroforestry and organic soil amendments.”

The don, who had produced a good number of graduate and postgraduate students, further stressed the need for the University “to encourage research on organic soil restoration, collaborate with government agencies and environmental organisations to facilitate land restoration projects” and to also “implement community outreach programmes to educate farmers and landowners on erosion control measures such as terracing, contour farming and agroforestry.”

Highlighting his passion for his field of Pedology, Prof. Olaniyan said, “By leveraging its academic expertise, research capabilities and community engagement, the University of Ilorin can play a crucial role in addressing these challenges and promoting sustainable soil management.” The lecture, which was presided over by the University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, was attended by Principal Officers of the University, Deans, senior academics friends, and students of the Inaugural Lecturer.