Biochemistry As A Profession; Is Not For Lazy Students- Prof. Augustine Olusola
Prof. Augustine Olusegun Olusola is the first Professor of Biochemistry at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko. A distinguished and eminent Professor of Toxicology & Environmental Biochemistry, researcher per excellence, motivator and award winning Scholar, recently spoke with The Focus Magazine Publisher, Ayodele Ologunola, on his inaugural lecture that will take place on August 26, 2025; Biochemistry as a vital course and other issues. Excerpt.
How did you find yourself as a University Lecturer
Recently, I was ruminating on my past, I remembered one of my late uncles, Pa Olaleye Akerele. When I was growing up, whenever I passed through his house, he normally called me Teacher. Upon hearing it, I will become elated. When I got home, I will tell my Mum that Baba called me a Teacher. Then, teaching profession had high regards. So, as the way I loved the profession, God said amen to it. Bun in the process of time, I changed my mind that I wanted to be a medical doctor. But somehow, somehow, I found myself in Biochemistry, yet my mind won’t leave medicine. Even as at the time of my NYSC, I determined I would go back to study medicine, but after my youth service, specifically in March 2000, my Brother, Mr John Asanbe, now in the USA, encouraged me to apply as a Lecturer at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko. I applied and eventually, I resumed as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Biochemistry, on January 12, 2001. I thank God that He put me in the best place that I will be so useful to humanity. To the glory of God, as at today, I have supervised close to one thousand undergraduate projects, fifteen M.Sc dissertations and eight PhD theses. Furthermore, I have published over 100 articles in which about 80 % appeared in reputable foreign journals. I could not have been more successful in any other profession. To God indeed be all glory.
You said that you wanted to be a medical doctor but found yourself
in biochemistry. Is there any relationship between medicine and biochemistry
In classical order, medieval and early modern tradition recognized only three professions: divinity, medicine and law, which were called the learned professions. Divinity’s first while medicine and law followed in that order. Incidentally, biochemistry belongs to basic and experimental medicine. There is nobody that will become a medical doctor without having the knowledge of biochemistry. In essence, biochemistry is the chemistry of life and medicine deals with life. When I got admission into biochemistry at the University of Benin, Benin City then, we were ten in number in my group (called the Yoruba Clique) but I was the only one studying biochemistry, while the others were in medicine. In 100 level, both the students of medicine and biochemistry did the same courses, basic sciences. But in the 200 and 300 levels, medical students took basic medical sciences, namely biochemistry, anatomy and physiology. This what it has been from the beginning to this very end. It is crystal clear therefore, that biochemistry is as old as medicine.
Sir, can you tell us more details about biochemistry as a course
As I said earlier, biochemistry is the study of life processes. All the processes occurring in the body; that we are able to feel anything in our body system is about biochemistry. That’s the reason I said nobody can become a medical doctor without having good knowledge of biochemistry. In some advanced Countries like Canada, you need a degree in biochemistry before you can be admitted to study medicine. Biochemistry is thus relevant to all walks of life.
*In the history of Adekunle Ajasin University, you were the first person to be appointed a Professor of Biochemistry. When the announcement was made, how did you feel*
I had to wait for good three years before the announcement was made. The announcement was made on December 10 2023, but backdated to October 01, 2020. I thank God that it met me well. It was probably the most exciting moment in my life and the appointment very well deserved. I worked for it and I give all glory to the Almighty God for helping me all the way and for taking me to the peak of my career. I am also grateful to the Vice Chancellor, an eminent and distinguished Professor of Palynology and Paleoecology, Professor Olugbenga E. Ige for making it happen in his time.
What has been the success story of your students in Biochemistry after graduation
You could remember that I added you to my WhatsApp group, where we are preparing for my inaugural lecture that comes up on August 26, 2025. Majority of the members of the platform, which are now about 400, are my former Students. They are all over the world and doing very well.
How can you rate the standard of biochemistry department of AAUA to other universities in the country
By the grace of God, I am a thorough-breed Biochemist. I had all my degrees from the prestigious University of Benin, Benin City and as I speak to you today, there is no other Universities in Nigeria that has a better biochemistry department than University of Benin, The Great Unibest, where I was trained. Everything I have been given in Benin is what I have replicated at Adekunle Ajasin University. For over fourteen years, this university has been rated as the best State University in Nigeria and amongst the best ten Universities in the Country. I have travelled far and wide, as external examiner for undergraduates, for masters and PhD, as external accessors etc, we have been moving round. But when it comes to high academic standards, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko stands higher among Universities in the Country.
In the area of research, what assistance has Adekunle Ajasin University rendered to its academic Staff
Incidentally, I am the Director of Research in the Institution. I can tell you for free that the University has been doing wonderfully in the area of research. Lecturers in this University enjoy research grants under the aegis of the institution- based research grants, funded by the University. The 2025 edition is being processed as I speak to you and eligible Staff will receive alerts any moment from now. Besides, the University also has a policy in place to support the dissemination of research findings by sponsoring attendance at both local and international conferences. As a result of the notable support of the University for research, seven academic Staff of the University were in October 2024 recognized as among the best scientists in the world rankings.
What relationship exists between the management and members of Staff of AAUA
There exists an excellent relationship. The Vice Chancellor, Professor Olugbenga Ige, is a man of the people. That is one reason I will continue to support appointment of home- grown academics into the position of the Vice Chancellor of the University. He has carried everyone along in the scheme of things. He knows and understands the system very well and he has all it takes to effectively run the system most peacefully. His peaceful and amiable disposition to administration is the reason the University under his watch has been very peaceful and progressive. No students’ or Staff union’s crises, no strikes, except national strikes so far. He had provided excellent leadership. Since he came on board, salaries had been paid regularly and promptly.
In the month of August this year, you are going to deliver your inaugural lecture. How prepared are you
The title of my inaugural lecture is “From a Biochemist to a Toxicologist: My Odyssey”. It is going to chronicle my journey since my primary school days to this end, especially in the world of biochemistry. I have carried out a number of research that have to do with public health. My 8th PhD Student defended his thesis in December last year. His title was toxicological evaluations of the use of Bonny Light crude oil for therapeutic purposes in the Niger-Delta. Incidentally, the Student hails from the Niger Delta. He said the people there swallow crude oil with a believe that it will protect them from evil spirits without minding the health implications. They also ingest the crude oil for other therapeutic purposes. Unknown to them, crude oil ingestion can cause general damage to all organs and systems in the body. The research was an eye opener. The findings of the research had been professionalized and disseminated for the information of the public. Publications in scientific journal outlets are under processing. In 2021, we did another research on adulteration of red oil in Ondo State. We found that red oil samples taken from the major Towns and Cities in the three senatorial districts of the State was adulterated with Sudan III and Sudan IV, which are carcinogenic. When you are travelling to Akure, at Emure-lle, you will see a lot of meat with different colours on them. Today, you see our traders out there put all manners of pet drinks in the sun just in a bid to attract customers. There is a particular substance in plastics, especially in the low-grade plastics used to make plastic bottles for water and other drinks. The kind of plastics used to make cellophane for packaging sachet water, is not the same as the one used for bottled water. It is also different from the one used for making food flasks and ‘coolers’. I used to give a particular topic to my seminar Students every year. The topic is ‘eating and drinking from plastic packaging: are we safe? There is a particular chemical in plastics that is called bisphenol A (BPA). BPA has been implicated to cause breast cancer. BPA in plastics dissolves in water at high temperatures. This normally happens when sachet or bottled water or other drinks in plastic packaging are exposed to the sun or heat. I engaged a Vendor who is a major distributor of a particular brand of table water, he said at the factory where all these bottled waters are processed, the water is almost frozen. Unfortunately, street traders eventually expose these table water to the sun thereby causing health risks to the public. I will use the opportunity of the inaugural lecture to sensitize the public on the harmful effects of all these unwholesome practices by traders and vendors. In the cause of my research, I have been able to proffer safe and cost-effective alternative solutions to some health problems like ulcer, diabetes mellitus, malaria etc. We have found a permanent cure for peptic ulcer. Hopefully, when we get funds, we are going to process it into tablets. We are working on various plants that will permanently cure diabetes. Work is also ongoing on how to produce drugs for malaria fever. Our candidate for antimalarial therapy will not only cure malaria, but also have immunomodulatory potential, meaning that it can boost the immune system to fight off malarial infection any time. All these research outcomes will be unveiled at the lecture. T o God indeed be all glory.
Some of our Polytechnics are now being converted into Universities, do you not think that Government is about to face out Polytechnics? What do you say
I don’t have the belief that Government wants to face out our Polytechnics in the Country. Government is going to establish more Polytechnics and even monotechnics. In Ondo State, we have a Federal Polytechnic, established about ten years ago at Ile Oluji. The fact that some Polytechnics have been upgraded to universities shows they have grown and developed in the real sense of it to attain their present status. This does not happen only in Nigeria. Trent State Polytechnic was upgraded to Nottingham Trent University in the Uk. Belief me that the BSc and HND dichotomy still exists despite all the noise. This shows that the demand for university education is also increasing while that for polytechnic education dwindles. There is huge justification for upgrading of polytechnics to universities when the requirements are met.
Are you really fulfilled in your chosen career
Like I said earlier, I am exceedingly fulfilled in my profession and I thank God profusely for it. During the last convocation in December 2024, Dr Oladutire, who happens to be the current Ag Head of Accounting Department and I, met His Excellency the Governor and the Visitor to the University, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, after the convocation recession. The Governor insisted he must take pictures with the two of us. He eventually posted the pictures on his social media platform. This our profession is an honourable profession.
Your word of advice for the biochemistry students of AAUA
I always encourage my students to be hardworking. Biochemistry as a profession, is not for lazy students. You see the medical students working hard because they deal with life, it’s the same in biochemistry.
