University LINKs Scheme
Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (Nigeria)
Dr Ojelade Oluwaseun
Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management
Email: ojeladeoc@funaab.edu.ng
2022
ANIMAL WELFARE STUDENT CLUB FUNAAB (AWSCF) STUDENT DISCUSSION
Following the Animal Welfare Student Club FUNAAB (AWSCF) official inauguration on November 17, 2021, the students had their first event on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. The student discussion focused on key animal welfare issues in Nigeria, including:
- The Nigerian culture and animal welfare
- The impact of biosecurity on animal welfare
- The effects of economic insecurity on animal welfare
Our panelists include: Ismalia Emmanuel, Adeniji Olufemi, Babalola Barnabas, Hunge Silas, Oliyide Kolade, Abayomi Tomori, Oyekunle Oluwatowo, and Bomodeouku Gbolahan. The discussion was moderated by the Student Club President, Oyeniran Victor. The meeting was attended by over 25 participants.
Various suggestions towards tackling the issue of animal rights and welfare in Nigeria were raised, including cultural rituals in Nigeria, pets and companion animals in Nigeria, and Nigerian legislation on animal welfare. On the bio-security discussion, we elaborated on the economic importance of bio-security to farmers, various bio-security facilities that are expected to be incorporated into the farm, and the relevance of farmer’s awareness in the prevention of zoonotic diseases. Finally, on economic instability, the causes and how government policies affect animal welfare were elaborated. Special thanks to our advisors, Dr. Oluwaseun Iyasere, Dr. Samuel Durosaro, and Dr. M.O. Abioja, for their guidance and encouragement.
2021
Virtual Inauguration of the Animal Welfare Student Club, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
The virtual inauguration of the Animal Welfare Student Club, FUNAAB was successful with an opening address by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Felix Kolawole Salako represented by the Deputy Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies, Dr. Lawrence Egbeyale.
Dr. Stephen Wickens, the Development Officer of UFAW was also in attendance. Dr Wickens enlightened the participants on various UFAW support grants and opportunities available to enhance animal welfare all over the world.
The guest speaker, Ashley AuCoin, gave a wonderful presentation on 'Applying your passion past your degree'. She encouraged the students to begin networking (especially on LinkedIn) with people in their career of their interest and that they should continue to have regular contacts with their connections.
Some other highlights included poem recitation on animal welfare by Daniel Tokede and presentations of the Five Freedoms in Yourba and Pidgin by Tunmise Ehigbor.
The cuckoo's, the moo's and the bleatings
are the only sounds you hear us make.
Though we say more from our hearts.
Life to all should be sacred
born of hope and compassion
filled with peace and expression.
Life to us "animals" should be met equally.
The time is here for unspoken words
to be heard like cymbals on solo nights.
To see Animals from the eyes of compassion.
To create a serene environment
for their utmost expression.
An atmosphere, for their betterment.
Give to them the right to live wholesomely
the opportunity to exhibit their natural behaviours
without the interference of man.
To live in the consciousness of their being
in a state of mental and physical stability.
To excel, even in production.
In this space and time
as this light comes shining through
Animals deserve to be cared for appropriately.
Tokede, Daniel Alayode.
I will like to appreciate one of the student, Emmanuel Adekunle for designing the AWSCF logo.
Special thanks to the organisers Dr Samuel Durosaro, PhD Wheto Mathew Victor Oyeniran and Dr Oluwaseun Iyasere
ANIMAL WELFARE STUDENT CLUB FUNAAB (AWSCF) VISITATION TO THE FUNAAB ZOO PARK
Some members of the Animal Welfare Student Club FUNAAB (AWSCF) led by the staff advisors Dr. Oluwaseun Iyasere and Dr. Samuel Durosaro accompanied by Dr. Oluwaseun Ojelade (a member of the Animal Welfare Group Nigeria) visited the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) zoological park on the 18th of October, 2021. The aim of the visit was to introduce the AWSCF members to the new Director, Dr. Oladapo Oduntan so that we can arrange on how the students can volunteer to assist with zoo activities, to allow the students learn about each animal and thirdly to discuss about how the zoo can be improved especially in terms of improving their welfare.
The Director made emphasis on the importance of our visit and the need to increase awareness of zoo welfare especially in terms of proper handling and the need for adequate provision of transportation facilities especially when new animals are acquired.
We visited the different sections such as the birds, reptiles, monkeys, baboons, jackals, hyena and donkeys among others and the museum where samples of dead animals were preserved.
At the end of the visit, the students were all happy learning about different zoo animals’ behaviour and characteristics and they also took note of some welfare issues that needed to be addressed such as isolation (having just one animal in a pen without a companion), need for the provision of more environmental enrichment materials, visitors safety in the zoo, provision of automated source of water for the animals and provision of shelter for some animals especially during extreme weather condition such as scorching sun and rainfall.
Following the Sensitization Workshop on Animal Welfare organized by Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) in collaboration with UFAW held on the 3rd of February, 2021 and the positive feedback from the participants from different universities and other sectors in Nigeria, we decided to maximize the 1 year licensed Zoom plan purchased from the UFAW Link grant to organize bimonthly seminar presentations on animal welfare. As at 21st of July, 2021 we have organized ten seminar presentations with speakers from Nigeria and across the globe; Nigeria (Valentine Obiasogu, Samuel Durosaro, Oreoluwa Ajayi and Oluwaseun Iyasere), The Netherlands (Rebecca Nordquist and Mona Giersberg), Australia (Edward Narayan), Portugal (Joao Saraiva), Canada (Mariana Roede Peixoto) and Switzerland (Michael Toscano). These presentations were centered on welfare of chickens, pigs, turkeys, fish and cattle on various welfare issues such as fear, slaughtering, sleeping behaviour, stress, early life stress during hatching.
We have another nine presentations already scheduled for the remaining part of the year. The remaining presentations are from diverse range of speakers; Malaysia (Suriya Ramaiah), United Kingdom (Tom Smulders and Kate Lewis), Nigeria (Oluwaseun Ojelade and Samuel Durosaro), Canada (Ana Rentsch, Oluwaseyi Adeboye and Rosemary Whittle), USA (Jen-You Chou) on wide range of species such as dairy cow, chickens, pig, captive ungulates, turkeys and fish.
Further Details of presentations can be found on https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Cz-cZeL1wZYa9kC5dYUnWA84ehSHIcmm/view?usp=sharing
