Professor J.A. Oso
Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences
Professor Oso, J.A. was born on 19th August 1969. He is a self-starting and forward-looking professional with strong skills in people management and organizational leadership. He has a passion for modern commercial agriculture and academic development in Nigeria.
His academic career was undertaken entirely in Nigeria up to the doctoral level, with specialization in Zoology, Fisheries Resources Management, and Ecology. Over the past twenty-five years, he has acquired extensive professional and academic experience across both the private and public sectors.
Consultancy Experience
Professor Oso has contributed as a consultant to World Bank-assisted projects, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
His consultancy engagements have also included baseline surveys of agricultural communities for rural development across several states of the federation.
Academic Career
Professor Oso has spent over twenty-four years as a university teacher and researcher. He joined the academic service on 2nd April 2001 and was confirmed on 1st October 2004. He rose through the academic ranks and was appointed Professor of Zoology and Environmental Biology on 1st October 2017.
He currently serves as a Professor in the Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, where he has contributed extensively to teaching, research, mentorship, and academic administration at the Departmental, Faculty, and University levels.
From 2023 to 2024, he served as a Visiting Professor in the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti. On 1st August 2025, Professor Oso was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University. Following the restructuring of the Faculty in October 2025 into the Faculties of Life Sciences and Physical and Applied Sciences, he became the Pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences.
Leadership and Professional Strengths
Professor Oso is recognized for his strong sense of responsibility, organizational skills, and people-management abilities. His professional career has been enriched by extensive participation in conferences, workshops, and training programmes both locally and internationally.
He has demonstrated considerable commitment to academic development, professional service, mentorship, and institutional leadership throughout his career.
Academic Qualifications
- 1991: B.Sc. (Hons.) Zoology, Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti (now Ekiti State University)
- 1995: MSc. Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
- 2007: PhD. Fisheries Ecology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Areas of Interest
His major areas of professional and academic interest include:
- Poverty alleviation and increased household food security
- Fisheries and Aquaculture
- Agricultural systems and rural development, particularly baseline surveys
- Biodiversity conservation and management
Mentorship
Over the years, Professor Oso has served as a mentor to many students admitted into the Department at different levels. He has provided them with orientation, academic guidance, counselling, and support on matters relating to their academic activities and other concerns, as appropriate.
His commitment to mentoring students reflects his broader interest in human capacity development and the advancement of academic and professional excellence in Nigeria.
Administrative Experiences:
Ag. Head of Department, Zoology 2011-2013
Departmental Postgraduate Coordinator 2016-2020
Faculty Representative to Faculty of the Social Sciences 2014-2017
Departmental Representative on the Faculty Research Committee 2017-2020
Member, Faculty of Science Postgraduate Committee 2017-2020
Member, University Committee on Students’ Revalidation 2019
Member, Business Committee of Senate, 2021-2022
Faculty Representative, University Admissions Committee 2020-2023
Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences 2025 to Date
Chairman, Committee of Deans 2026