FUTA SETS UP RESEARCH LABORATORY FOR ANIMAL DOMESTICATION
An epoch making event took place at the T. A. Afolayan Wild Life Park of the Federal University of Technology, Akure on Thursday 14th February, 2019 when the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joseph Fuwape and some top Management staff laid foundation for a Research Laboratory for animal domestication. The Laboratory, a university project under the watch of the Department of Ecotourism and Wildlife Management (EWM), aims at increasing food production, improving protein intake and consumption, encouraging self-reliance and employment generation among others.
In a welcome address, the Head, Department of Ecotourism and Wildlife Management, Professor (Mrs.) Bernadette Ejidike said the building will serve as laboratory to conduct research on animal domestication and nutrition with hands on experience being the focal point. She said, “Animals such as Grasscutter, Snail, Giant Rat will be reared, raised and multiplied on a large scale. Experiment will be conducted on nutrition and diet formulation for the animals while students will be equipped with necessary skills to undertake and establish their wildlife farms on a large scale”. She added that the laboratory will also attract traffic to the T. A. Afolayan Wildlife Park and generate funds for the university.
In his remark the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joseph Fuwape commended the ingenuity of staff of EWM and the School of Agricultural and Agricultural Technology (SAAT) for the vision to establish such a laboratory. He said “there is a lot of benefit that the University stands to gain from the laboratory. This is because there is a great potential in Wildlife Management. We cannot afford to allow our natural resources, including animals to waste away in the bush. The University Management will give total support to ensure that the laboratory is completed within the year. It is also an avenue for staff and students to learn more. I commend the Dean of SAAT, HOD EWM and staff for this laudable project”.
The Dean of SAAT, Professor Taiwo Amos and a veteran academic in the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, (FAT), Professor Oyedapo Fagbenro commended the idea of the laboratory, saying it is a plus to the research endeavor of the University.