Last Updated on October 13, 2025 by Olasunkanmi Olajide
… Hosts Inaugural Memorial Lecture in His Honour
By Emeka Oluka & Ridwan Sulaiman
In a bid to immortalise the legacy of the late Prof. Olufemi Onifade, the family, led by his wife, Prof. Comfort Onifade, in partnership with the Initiative for Peace and Comfort (IPC), has launched the Professor Femi Onifade Memorial Foundation (PFOMF).
The event, held today October 10, 2025, at the Postgraduate Hall of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), also featured the Inaugural Professor Femi Onifade Memorial Lecture in honour of the late scholar’s profound contributions to Animal Science, peacebuilding, and human development.
Themed “The Feed, The Feed, The Feed,” the lecture brought together academics, students, family members, and professional colleagues to celebrate Prof. Onifade’s enduring legacy as a humble, dedicated, and compassionate leader. The theme reflected his holistic philosophy, feeding the mind through knowledge, the body through agricultural innovation, and the soul through compassion and faith.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, the Dean of the College of Plant Science and Crop Production (COLPLANT), Prof. Bola Senjobi, in his Goodwill Message, highlighted the late scholar’s unwavering dedication to education, community upliftment, and peace. He commended the Initiative for Peace and Comfort (IPC), co-founded by Prof. Onifade and his wife, as a noble extension of their shared vision for a humane and value-driven society.
In his Welcome Address, the Dean of the College of Animal Science and Livestock Production (COLANIM), Prof. Abimbola Oso, described the late Prof. Onifade as a paragon of peace, humility, service, and scholarly integrity. He lauded the establishment of the foundation and lecture series as a worthy initiative to preserve his enduring impact, especially in the field of Pasture and Range Management, where he made significant academic contributions.
Delivering the Keynote Address, Dr. Tunde Amole of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) paid glowing tribute to his late mentor, describing him as “a man whose wisdom still speaks and whose legacy continues to feed generations.” He explored the three dimensions of the theme, the feed for the nation, the feed for livestock, and the feed for the soul, underscoring how Prof. Onifade’s work transcended science to address the deeper human needs of sustenance, dignity, and purpose.
Dr. Amole also revealed plans to establish a dedicated structure in the Department of Pasture and Range Management in honour of the late Professor, symbolising a foundation for future academic endeavours. He urged members of academia to uphold Prof. Onifade’s ideals of dedication, collaboration, and national service.
During the unveiling of the Foundation, Prof. Comfort Onifade described her husband as “a man whose life was his legacy.” She explained that the Professor Femi Onifade Memorial Foundation (PFOMF) was established to empower youths and women through entrepreneurship, promote education through scholarships, and advance community health and wellness.
She outlined the Foundation’s core initiatives, which include skill acquisition and mentorship programmes, annual scholarships for 20 deserving students, public health campaigns, and an annual memorial lecture series focusing on Animal Science, entrepreneurship, and health. Additionally, the Foundation aims to train at least 100 youths and women yearly and host an annual music concert celebrating faith, creativity, and cultural expression.
Prof. Onifade noted that by forging partnerships with schools, faith-based organisations, and NGOs, PFOMF would broaden its reach and deepen its impact in research, peace education, youth mentorship, and community development.
The event, graced by members of the academic community, professional bodies, and students, transcended remembrance to serve as a clarion call to sustain and amplify Prof. Olufemi Onifade’s ideals of peace, knowledge, compassion, and service to humanity.
