Last Updated on July 23, 2025 by Olasunkanmi Olajide
By Olasunkanmi Olajide, Tofunmi Adebayo & Aduragbemi Oke
In a groundbreaking move that blends science, sustainability, and tradition, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has featured a remarkable demonstration of the University’s strides in renewable energy through bamboo technology, and the cultural revival of Aadun, a traditional snack. It also unveiled its Indigenous Knowledge Unit under the Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR).
The special exhibition, which marked the formal take-off of the Unit, was graced by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, who reaffirmed the University’s commitment to sustainable development. He noted that FUNAAB’s expansive land area with over 10,200 hectares, one of the largest among Nigerian universities, offers a unique opportunity to explore innovations that serve both academic advancement and community development.
Commending Prof. Oluwalana’s lifelong dedication to indigenous knowledge, the Vice-Chancellor expressed appreciation for his continued contributions, even after retirement, and urged him to keep leading the Unit’s activities. He stressed the need to preserve, document, and transmit indigenous knowledge to future generations as a vital component of national development and innovation.
One of the event’s highpoints was a live demonstration of electricity generation from bamboo roots, led by the pioneer Head of the Indigenous Knowledge Unit and the University’s 72nd Inaugural Lecturer, Prof. Samuel Oluwalana. The experiment lit up several electric bulbs, showcasing bamboo’s potential as a clean and renewable energy source.
In another display of innovation, Prof. Oluwalana, a former Dean of Student Affairs, demonstrated the possibility of producing bamboo wine by injecting Fanta into a living bamboo stem, initiating a fermentation process expected to yield a detoxified, nutrient-rich wine within three months. He described bamboo as a botanical wonder with multifaceted applications, ranging from nutrition and energy to cultural and economic values, noting its unique flowering cycle that occurs only once in approximately 70 years.
Earlier in his Welcome Remarks, the Director of IFSERAR, Prof. Olusegun Idowu, described the occasion as a turning point in the effort to harness traditional wisdom for modern-day agricultural, environmental, and health solutions. He invited members of the University Community and the general public to explore the offerings of the new Unit, including bamboo wine and Aadun, for cultural celebrations and research purposes.
Guests at the event participated in a tasting session of Aadun, produced using indigenous methods, and witnessed firsthand the practical demonstration of bamboo-powered lighting, underscoring the fusion of tradition with technology.
Meanwhile, the University has achieved an uninterrupted power supply on campus via the 3MW Hybrid Solar Plant.
With this initiative, FUNAAB has continued to blaze the trail at the intersection of indigenous knowledge, scientific research, and sustainable development, reaffirming its leadership in innovation that is deeply rooted in cultural heritage.
