Anthony Kayode ONIFADE

 PROFILE OF PROFESSOR ANTHONY KAYODE ONIFADE 

Professor Anthony Kayode ONIFADE hails from Ekan-Meje, Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. He had his secondary education at Bishop Smith Memorial College (BSMC) Ilorin between 1978 and 1983. He was the first Health Prefect in his final year at BSMC, Ilorin. Later on in 1983, he proceeded to the Ondo State University (now Ekiti State University) Ado-Ekiti, where he graduated in 1987 as the best overall student in the B.Sc class of Botany Department. In 1992, he obtained his Master’s degree in Agricultural Biology (Phytopathology) from the University of Ibadan. At the University of Ilorin in 1998, he bagged his Ph.D degree in Microbiology. Professor Onifade started his teaching career as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Botany in 1989 at Ekiti State University Ado-Ekiti, where he rose to the rank of Lecturer 1 in 1997. 

He then began his FUTA academic journey in 1999 at the Department of Biology as Lecturer 1. In 2002, he crossed to the Department of Microbiology as a Senior Lecturer where he rose through the ranks to the grade of Professor in 2007. Since he joined the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), he has held several administrative positions including Postgraduate Coordinator, Head of Department of Microbiology for two terms, Acting Dean School of Sciences, member of the University Senate, member of University's Appointments and Promotions Committee, as well as Chairman and member of many University's committees. His impact also saw him as a Professor on sabbatical and Head of Microbiology Department at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko Ondo State in 2013, at which time the Department attained full NUC accreditation status. Prof. Onifade has participated in both national and international conferences and workshops on phytopathology, phytotherapy and electron microscopy. 

He has designed and successfully supervised over eighty students at the Postgraduate Diploma, Master's and Doctoral levels in his area of specialization, Pathogenic/Pharmaceutical Microbiology. He has authored 120 research articles in local and international journals of repute. Through intensive research, Prof Onifade secured a patent while undergoing a postdoctoral research fellowship at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman in 2004. Prof Onifade has performed creditably as the pioneer National Secretary of Mycological Society of Nigeria between 2006 and 2018. He is a fellow and member of Board of Trustees of Mycological Society of Nigeria, Fellow of the Institute for Natural Resources and Human Development, and a member of the Editorial Board of many learned journals. 

He has served as undergraduate and postgraduate external examiner, professorial external assessor, as well as a consultant on the appointment of academic staff in many Nigerian Universities. Prof Onifade delivered the 57th Inaugural Lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, on Tuesday 16th February 2010. The inaugural lecture was titled ‘Phytotherapy: A random walk through a random forest?’ 

He is the National President of Ekan Development Association (EDA). He is married and blessed with children.