I am a Microbiologist, interested in the environmental sources and routes of pathogens to food.
My research explores important aspects of food systems such as soil microbiology, water microbiology, food spoilage, safety and stability, Food Loss and Waste, and food preservation.
I am an exercise enthusiast, a political aficionado, cruciverbalist and a book lover. I like crime stories and certain other genres of fiction, but I also enjoy literature, history, political satire, and geography.
In recent time, I have grown passionate about science communication because I had certain encounters that alerted me to how ignorance can drive defective quotidian choices.
The regular practice of presenting scientific information and research findings in academic Journals is insufficient, as people outside the academic community typically do not consume academic output.
Wide dissemination of scientific research output to the public to inform positive life choices ranging from the use of cosmetics to food consumption is thus, necessary.
This can be achieved by weaving sound science with standard stories.
Nigeria has a vigorous press comprised of seasoned political analysts and other pundits who have over time, generated elegant commentary on the whys and wherefores of Nigeria’s political and socioeconomic challenges. I have periodically referred to this constructive banter as ‘political bashing’.
Political bashing is useful as it continues to ignite and moderate the most critical national dialogues and discussions.
Such expert deliberation has more importantly generated requisite umbrage that translated to political action in many cases. We however, need far more than that.
Although, many of Nigeria’s political leaders are painfully inept, there is the unmistakable trend where a select few seemingly competent people with lofty ideas advance into significant political positions, but find it difficult despite manifested energy and potential, to drive meaningful change.
This is attributable to certain factors, such as a profoundly dysfunctional political landscape as well as the fact that Nigeria is fundamentally an immensely difficult country to govern, for myriad reasons.
Nigeria’s problems are also multifaceted, a challenge amplified by the fact that some of our issues are colored by several deep-seated religious, ethnic and socio-cultural contentions.
In addition to all of these however, it is quite apparent that our political leaders and many public servants lack the requisite expertise to formulate sound policies that can provide tangible and sustainable relief to some of our prevalent challenges.
Nigeria, despite its huge potential for greatness, thus continues to wallow in the throes of underdevelopment, grappling with severe structural and functional problems.
As a people, how can we mature to a point where science influences our society? How do we develop our political machinery to a point where it is mostly fair, functional and effective?
How can we evolve to a point where we are fully redeemed from the shackles of leaders who are morally and intellectually bereft? What are the most critical factors that should influence public policy, particularly considering how divergent we are socio-culturally and politically?
This is what this site is about; it is a compilation of some of my recent articles, published in National newspapers like the Cable, Daily Trust, Vanguard, the Nation, and BusinessDay, touching on different subjects relevant to the economic, agricultural, educational, and social health of Nigeria.
I hope you find them useful and enriching or even instructive.
Now, I am not an expert on most of the issues that I have covered, but my on-going academic training has equipped me with research skills, which makes it easy for me to explore, verify and present statistics (where available) as well as proffer informed perspective(s) on many of these issues.
I also typically parse documented best practices in other more advanced regions of the world or even socio-economically similar systems to draw recommendations and potentially workable solutions to explored problems.
Welcome to my site;- like many of us, I look forward to a time where sound, unbiased research will influence policies, catalyze social change and drive sustainable development in our beloved Nigeria.
I hope some of my ideas/opinions will trigger constructive discourse and spur you in positive ways. Please send me any suggestions, considerations or counter-opinions at….
I look forward to reading from you!
Cheers!
