HOD’s welcome address

I welcome warmly you to the Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

The Department was one of the Departments established at the then University of Ife in 1962 (now Obafemi Awolowo University) when Soil Science was taught as a part of the 4-year General Agriculture Programme in the Faculty of Agriculture.

Our programs in the Department are designed to give our students a broader perspective beyond their particular research fields. Our courses are structured in such a way that provide students with what it takes to be fully trained in all aspects of Soil Science and Land Resources Management.

Our students are trained to be critical and self-reflexive. They are trained to be researchers who will contribute their quotas to national and international development. They are trained to read and inquire critically, and write thoughtfully.

I enjoy you to look through our pages and learn more about us, our Department and our programs. Do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you have questions.

Julius Olayinka Ojetade

Head of Department

Soil Science and Land Resources

Management

History of the Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management.

At the inception of the University of Ife in 1962, Soil Science was taught as a part of the 4-years General Agriculture Programme in the Faculty of Agriculture. A full-fledged Department of Soil Science started in 1966/67. The Department had Coordinators/Heads in the following order: Drs. Forster and Jaiyebo, Profs. Corey and Wilkinson, Drs. Schulte and Fenster, Profs. Ashaye, Aduayi, Adepetu and Adebayo, Drs. Okusami, Olu Obi and Olayinka, Profs Okusami, Olayinka, Oyedele, Amusan, Dr. (Mrs.) Idowu and Dr. (Mrs.) Adesanwo. Dr. Ojetade is the current Head of Department. Professors Corey and Wilkinson, and Drs. Schulte and Fenster were in the Department under the auspices of the U.S.A.I.D. programme.The staff and students of the Department carry out their researches in the laboratory, greenhouse, the University Teaching and Research Farm and at out-stations. The greenhouse was constructed in 1970 while the Teaching and Research Farm was established in 1968. Locations in southwestern Nigeria that have been used as research outstations include Ado-Ekiti, Agege, Akure, Fasola, Igboho, Ikare, Ikenne, Ilora, Kishi, Lanlate, Ogbomoso, Owena, Araromi, Itagunmodi and Okitipupa. Mission, Vision, objectives of the DepartmentAll the Departments in the Faculty co-operate in offering a comprehensive curriculum leading to the award of the degree of B.Agric. (Soil Science). The Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management concentrates on the development of highly skilled, practical-oriented man-power as most graduates seek employment directly in various capacities varying from the purely scientific to the purely administrative; some become self-employed while a few will pursue further studies either in Soil Science or in such Soil Science-oriented fields as soil mineralogy, agronomy, land-use planning and management, geology, geochemistry, soil microbiology, environmental studies etc. In view of these diverse interests, the undergraduate programme in Soil Science and Land Resources Management has been designed with the following objectives:(i)to impart competence in the fundamentals of the main branches of basic Soil Science and practical agriculture;(ii)to offer an opportunity of acquaintance with some of the basic problems of the farmers and the development of appropriate methodology in solving such problems; and(iii)to impart knowledge of improved techniques for soil and water management, efficient method of fertilizer use and improved land use management approaches.During the 2008/2009 academic session, the University Senate gave approval for the change in name of the Department from Soil Science to Soil Science and Land Resources Management with the acronym SLM.

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