In a very eye-opening Inaugural Lecture titled, “Hunger Pains, Plant Blisses: Understanding the Secret Lives of Plants”, Professor Liasu Adebayo Ogunkanmi exposed the audience to the hidden complexities of the plant world. The lecture, being the first of the 2024/2025 Academic Session, shed light on the surprising ways plants mirror human behavior, engaging dynamically with their environments and one another through sophisticated genetic, phenotypic, and molecular mechanisms.
Professor Ogunkanmi’s exposition revealed that plants are far from passive organisms. Instead, they are active participants in a “dialogue” with their surroundings, sensing and responding to changes with remarkable adaptability. These insights emphasized the importance of genetic resources, known as Germplasm, which is the cornerstone for breeding resilient and productive crops.
By studying both the physical traits (phenotypes) and genetic makeup (genotypes) of plants, Professor Ogunkanmi highlighted how these factors interact with environmental conditions, enabling plants to survive and thrive even under adverse circumstances.
As part of his research, Professor Ogunkanmi brought to the fore, groundbreaking advancements in genomic technology, including tools like CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and high-throughput sequencing. These technologies empower scientists to identify and manipulate genes responsible for desirable traits, such as drought resistance and disease resilience, making crops more sustainable in a world facing climate uncertainties. The lecture also introduced gene introgression, a process of integrating advantageous genes across species to enhance crop robustness, ensuring food security and ecosystem sustainability.
With climate change, food security, and environmental sustainability at the forefront of global challenges, Professor Ogunkanmi asserted that understanding plant biology has never been more crucial. His work highlights how the secrets of plants hold the key to cultivating crops that are not only productive but also resilient and sustainable. This knowledge, he explained, lays the groundwork for agricultural innovation that strengthens our food supply while preserving the delicate balance of ecosystems.
Professor Ogunkanmi closed his Inaugural Lecture with a powerful call to action, urging society to confront the enduring issues of hunger and malnutrition. He challenged the audience and policymakers, asking how hunger can persist in a world with ample resources. Describing it as “unacceptable and unforgivable,” he called on everyone to work toward a more sustainable and equitable future, where no one suffers from hunger in a world of plenty.
Through his lecture, Professor Ogunkanmi left the audience not only informed but also inspired to harness the wisdom of plants for a future that promises both prosperity and ecological harmony.
Born on Monday, November 1, 1965 to Late Mr Raufu Afolabi Ogunkanmi and Late Mrs Taiwo Kosenatu Ogunkanmi in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria, Professor Liasu Adebayo Ogunkanmi is an accomplished Professor of Plant Genetics and Molecular Biology in the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos (UNILAG). His educational portfolio includes a National Certificate of Education (NCE) in Biology/Chemistry with Distinction in Biology from Oyo State (now Osun State), College of Education Ila-Orangun; B.Sc. (Ed) Biology Degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (1992); as well as a Master’s Degree (1997) and PhD in Botany (2006) from our prestigious University, UNILAG.
In 2005, Professor Ogunkanmi, joined the services of UNILAG as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics. He rose through the ranks to Lecturer II in 2006; Lecturer I in 2009; Senior Lecturer in 2011; Associate Professor in 2016 and Professor of Plant Genetics and Molecular Biology in 2020.
Author: Nike Ogunshakin
Photographer: Ayomide Oloyede
Article Editor: Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem
Photo Editor: Nike Ogunshakin
