FAS, RAS, FNSAP, FNIAS, FASAN, FCASN, MNIM, JP
Prof Adu was born into the illustrious family of late Chief Joseph Adu Fagbohun, the Ajero of Igbara-Oke. He attended Anglican Grammar School, Igbara-Oke as one of the foundation students (1958-1963). Professor I. F. Adu holds a Diploma in Animal Health and Husbandry (1966). He had his University Education at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria where he obtained the B.Sc (1972) and Ph.D (1975) in Animal Science with a Rockefeller Foundation Scholarship. He was a University of Ibadan scholar (1970 – 1972). He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theology (Pastoral Studies) 2003. Professor Adu started his career as a Scientific Officer, Nigeria Education Research Council (1975-1976). He started his teaching and research career at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria in October 1976 as a Research Fellow/Lecturer II where he rose through the ranks to become a Professor of Ruminant Animal Nutrition and Management on 1st October, 1986. He had his post-doctoral training in Rowlett Research Institute, Edinburgh, Scotland in 1977. Prof Adu was an awardee of the prestigious Alexander Von-Humboldt Foundation Fellowship and was a Visiting Professor to the University of Giessen, Germany between 1988 and 1989. He has been External Examiner to 15 universities in Nigeria and to 4 other universities in Africa. He has been Chairman/ member Accreditation Panel to many universities in Nigeria and member of Institutional Quality Audit to 2 universities in Africa.
Professor Adu transferred his services to the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria in October 1990 where he was the Dean Student Affairs (1991 to 1996), Deputy Vice-Chancellor (1996 to 2000) and Vice-Chancellor (2001 to 2006). As Vice-chancellor, he was noted for enviable performance and credible achievements. He won the maiden “Best Vice-Chancellor” Award for Nigerian Universities in 2002 and also won the award again in 2005. He was the Chairman, Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities and seats as a Director in three registered companies.
Professor Adu had 156 publications made up of 122 papers in national and internationals journals, 7 monographs, 3 chapters in books and 24 referred conference papers. He has produced 14 Masters and 8 Ph.D Degree graduates, seven of who are today Professors.
Professor Adu was a well-known Consultant on Livestock production particularly small ruminants. He was National Coordinator, Nationally Coordinated Small Ruminant Projects in Nigeria (1983 to 1990), Chairman, African Small Ruminant Research Network (1994 to 1998) and has served as a member of the Network since 1990 He has served on the World Council for Animal Production (1998-2000). He was National President, Nigerian Society for Animal Production (1996 to 2000). He was the first Vice-President of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (2007 to 2014) the President of the professional Institute (2014- 2020). He has received 21 awards including the prestigious Dr. Kwame Nkrumah merit Award for Leadership in 2004. Prof Adu was a Fellow of 5 professional bodies.
In January, 2007, Professor Adu joined the National Open University of Nigeria first as Consultant Academic Planning ( 2007-2009) and later as the Foundation Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies. He was also the Foundation Director of African Council for Distance Education, Quality Assurance and Accreditation Agency (ACDE-QAAA) 2011- 2017. In this position Prof Adu coordinated the development of a Quality Assurance Tools and Instruments for Institutional quality audit and programme accreditation for use in African Oen and Distance Learning Universities. The Toolkit has been translated to three other African languages-French, Arabic and Portuguese. Prof Adu was appointed as one of the two Focal Point men on Quality for Africa by the International Council of Distance Education based in Oslo, Norway (2016-2017). Prof Adu was the Chairman, University Establishment Committee of McPherson University, a private University owned by the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria (2007-2012). He was also the Pioneer Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Mcpherson University Governing Council from 2012 to November 2016. He was later awarded Doctor of Science degree (honoris causa) by the same University in November, 2019.
Professor Israel Folorunso Adu, the astute ruminant nutritionist was appointed emeritus professor in the Department of Animal Nutrition of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta by the senate of the university in Janauary 2020. He was the first emeritus professor in the 33 year old university. Professor Adu served the University of Agriculture Abeokuta meritoriously from 1990 until retirement in 2014.Prof Adu has travelled to all states of the Federation and to many countries in 4 continents of the world. Professor Adu was an ordained minister of the Gospel with the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria. He is happily married and blessed with children and grandchildren.
