University LINKs Scheme
Bowen University (Nigeria)
Dr Olufemi Alabi
Department of Animal Science and Fisheries Management
email: olufemi.alabi@bowen.edu.ng
2022
REPORT ON THE SENSITIZATION WORKSHOP ON ANIMAL WELFARE HELD ON MAY 17TH, 2022 AT BOWEN UNIVERSITY, IWO, NIGERIA
Preamble
The program whose main objective was to create awareness about animal welfare and rights among students, researchers, livestock farmers, animal transporters and processors was done on May 17th, 2022 with the support of Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) and hosted by the UFAW Link, Prof. Olufemi Alabi and the Animal Welfare Group with the approval of Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria.
The program had in attendance students from Agriculture, Law, Sociology, Biological and Biomedical Sciences; lecturers ,researchers and technologists from these programmes within Bowen University; stakeholders such as livestock farmers, animal transporters, abattoir operators from Iwo, Oluponna, Kuta, Ile-ogbo and neighboring towns and 216 people attended the program.
Proceedings
1. Opening
The program was declared open by the Deputy Provost of the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science; Dr Bimbo Owoseni on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor who was unavoidably absent and she also gave a welcome address on behalf of the Provost.
2. About UFAW
Prof. Olufemi Alabi the Convener gave a brief overview about UFAW and its global activities on Animal Welfare since 1926 and his appointment as UFAW Link Person for Africa/Middle East domiciled in Bowen University with the task of promoting issues about Animal Welfare among the students, researchers and other animal handlers in developing countries such as Nigeria where topics on animal welfare are still unpopular.
3. Lectures
i. The first lecture titled “ What is Animal Welfare” was given by Dr Bukola Olanike Oyebanji from Department of Animal Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria and she emphasized the need to be conscious about the general well-being of the animals be it wild or domestic. She highlighted some areas of cruelty against animal hood and also enlightened the audience to always make the animals comfortable in term of housing, feeding, health care, general handling, transportation and slaughter. She informed the audience that the animals too are sensitive to pains and comforts and that they have their feelings and emotions too.
ii. The second lecture titled “ Animals: Do they have rights too?” was delivered by Barrister Sikiru Adewoye from Lateef Fagbemi & Co Chamber, Ibadan, Nigeria. The lawyer took the audience through the historical development of Animal Laws in Nigeria, the current situation and the future outlook. He informed the audience that there are animal laws in Nigeria but that people are not aware of this and also the level of enforcement is still very low hence the need to sensitize more professionals to start developing interest in these areas. He pointed out that animals must be handled with care, be made to be comfortable and humans must avoid all forms of cruelty against them. He gave examples of Animal Laws and cases of animal cruelty , violations of animal rights and subsequent prosecutions.
During the interactive session, questions were asked by some of the attendees and these were answered accordingly by the two guest lecturers.
4. Launching of the Students Animal Welfare Club
The Bowen University Chapter of Students Animal Welfare Club was launched as anchored by Dr Oluwaseyi Ayoola with 45 students as pioneer members.
5. Closing
The Convener, Prof. Olufemi Alabi appreciated the invited guests and the lecturers for honoring the invitation. He thanked the Vice-Chancellor of Bowen University, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole for hosting the workshop and also UFAW for the grant to organize the program. He appreciated members of Animal Welfare Group of Bowen University and that of the newly launched Students Animal Welfare Club. He admonished the attendees to imbibe the culture of taking good care of their animals in all ramifications and to propagate the good news about animal welfare.
2021
REPORT ON SENSITIZATION PROGRAM ON ANIMAL WELFARE HELD AT BOWEN UNIVERSITY IWO, NIGERIA ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 16TH,2021
As part of its move to create more awareness on Animal welfare and its science in Nigeria and Africa at large, the Animal Welfare Group of Bowen University, Iwo Nigeria decided to visit the main library of the University on Tuesday, November 16th, 2021.
Members of the group comprising of Dr Olufemi Alabi, Dr Abel Oguntunji and Dr Mathew Ayoola from Animal Science and Fisheries Management Unit of Agriculture Program, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science of Bowen University were well received by the University Librarian, Mrs Ronke Otunla.
The convener of the meeting, Dr Alabi (UFAW Link Person), appreciated the Librarian for welcoming his team and later intimated the librarian about the activities of the group and what animal welfare is all about. He further informed the meeting about UFAW and its activities globally on issues related to animal welfare including grants and other forms of support to scientists. He pointed out that Bowen University is now an international affiliate of UFAW for the promotion of issues of animal welfare among students , researchers and other stakeholder not only in Nigeria but Africa and Middle East and in fact the first private university to have this privilege. He promised that the team will be floating programs on animal welfare periodically with the support of UFAW.
The group later donated copies of Animal Welfare Journal and 2020 annual reports of UFAW and HSA to Bowen University Library. The librarian, Mrs Ronke Otunla on behalf of the University Management appreciated the group led by Dr Alabi for the gesture and for adding to the international research networks and visibility of Bowen University globally through this link scheme of UFAW. She promised that the University will be ready to assist the group in its research pursuits. She emphasized the need to collaborate with other researchers from other field such as Sociology, Law, Biological sciences and Medial sciences. The journals and the reports were later displayed on the shelve of the library.
