IITA Tour: VC’s Visit Turns Emotional as ACU Student, Alumnus Shine in IITA Lab
It was a moment of pride, emotion, and academic excellence when the Vice-Chancellor, Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), Prof. Ebunoluwa Oduwole, visited the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan and met two exceptional women making the university proud at the institute’s Molecular Biological Laboratory.
The encounter, described by witnesses as “soul-lifting,” saw Prof. Oduwole congratulates an ACU PhD student, Mrs. Yemi Fajire, and an alumna, Ms. Grace Daramola, both of whom are actively working within the high-tech research facility. Overwhelmed with joy, Mrs. Fajire and Ms. Daramola were visibly elated as the Vice-Chancellor embraced them warmly, surrounded by other key officers of the university.
The motherly gesture underscored the strong bond between ACU and its diaspora of scholars excelling in specialised fields. Mrs. Fajire, who is currently pursuing her PhD under the joint supervision of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Atinuke Olanbiwonninu, and the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Moses Adebayo, was fully in charge of the Molecular Biology Laboratory during the visit.
Her competence was on full display as she led the ACU delegation on a comprehensive tour of the facility. With precision and clarity, Mrs. Fajire walked the team through an array of state-of-the-art equipment, explaining the function of each machine. The tour covered key sections of the lab, including: The DNA/RNA Laboratory; The Ploidy Analysis Laboratory; The Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Room; The Sequencing Room and The Culture Laboratory Room What began as a guided tour soon evolved into an interactive and highly educative discussion between the ACU team and IITA-based researchers, highlighting the growing synergy between the university and one of Africa’s leading agricultural research institutes.
The ACU delegation led by Prof. Oduwole included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Olukayode Binuyo; the Registrar , Dr. Bode Olofinmuagun; Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Moses Adebayo; Head, Department of Agricultural Economics, Dr. Rhoda Adeniyi; and Head, Department of Crop and Animal Science, Dr. Tolulope Faniyi, among other key stakeholders.
Speaking after the tour, Prof. Oduwole praised the outstanding performance of Mrs. Fajire and Ms. Daramola, describing them as ambassadors of ACU’s commitment to academic rigor and global relevance. “Seeing our own thriving in a world-class environment like IITA confirms that we are on the right path. I am immensely proud of them,” she said.
The visit further solidified ACU’s growing reputation for producing graduates and postgraduates who are making tangible impacts in specialised fields across Nigeria and beyond.