By Olaoye Oyewole & Wuraola Dada

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has recorded another milestone with the official launch of the Artificial Intelligence Applications for One Health (AIA4OneHealth) research hub.

The initiative, unveiled at the University on August 27, 2025, marked the commencement of two groundbreaking projects aimed at leveraging artificial intelligence to address pressing human, animal, and environmental health challenges.

Declaring the hub open, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, who was represented by the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Morenike Dipeolu, described the development as a bold step in advancing multidisciplinary research and innovation at FUNAAB. He noted that the One Health concept was a global phenomenon, adding that the AIA4OneHealth initiative aligned with the University’s vision of producing impactful research that solves real-world problems.

The Vice-Chancellor reiterated that FUNAAB, renowned for its Tripodal Mandate of Teaching, Research, and Extension Service, has continued to expand its frontiers. He announced that the University would launch its newest academic unit, the College of Computer Science (COLCOMP), in the 2025/2026 Academic Session. According to him, this has further underscored the institution’s commitment to technology and innovation.

Commending the research team led by Prof. Adesina Sodiya, the Vice-Chancellor expressed confidence that their work would consolidate FUNAAB’s global standing. “This launch was not just a milestone for the AIA4OneHealth team, but a pivotal moment for our University, stakeholders, and the communities that stand to benefit,” Prof. Kehinde affirmed.

The AIA4OneHealth initiative was supported by the Artificial Intelligence for Pandemic and Epidemic Preparedness (AI4PEP) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), with the backing of a diverse, multidisciplinary research team. Prof. Kehinde stressed that the outputs of the projects would be made accessible and actionable for both academia and society at large.

Earlier in his Welcome Address, the Team Lead, Prof. Sodiya, traced the journey of the project to two years ago when the group responded to a Call-for-Proposal by AI4PEP, a Canada-based research network at the University of Toronto. After a rigorous three-stage screening, the FUNAAB team emerged as Nigeria’s representative among nine countries in the Global South.

He explained that AIA4OneHealth was designed to develop innovative AI-driven solutions to tackle One Health challenges.

Highlights of the programme included a paper on About AIA4OneHealth by the Project Director, Dr. Olorunjube Falana; a presentation on Research Analysis and Disease Control in the Global South by Dr. Dada Aborisade; and an online lecture by the Executive Director, AI4PEP, Prof. Jude Kong of the University of Toronto.

Goodwill Messages came from the Acting Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Dr. Adekunle Adediran, representative of the Ogun State Governor’s Special Adviser on ICT, Engr. Olaleye Adeyemi, representative of Ogun State Ministry of Health, Dr. Joan Osayemi, among many others both within and outside of FUNAAB.

SDG3, #SDG4, #SDG9

Have something to share? Reach us at info@aia4onehealth.org.