Seth Ajayi is an internationally acclaimed Professor Emeritus and a quintessence of intellectualism.
He is an Alumnus of the Prestigious Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria where he got a BSc. Honours in Zoology (1968), and University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom – MSc. Wildlife and Range Management (1971). His MSc. programme was rated as one of the most successful undertakings by United Nations /Food and Agriculture Organization (UN/FAO) and a letter of commendation was written to the Federal Government of Nigeria to this effect. He is the first (1st) African Ph.D holder in Wildlife Management (1975) and subsequently became the first (1st) Professor of Wildlife Management in Africa (1980).
Some of his specific areas of achievement and contributions include:
– Development of scientific approach to Wildlife Conservation throughout Africa.
– Development of scientific processes for the domestication of three African Wildlife Species.
– Development of curriculum for Wildlife Conservation in Nigeria and several African countries.
– Development of the proposal upon which the National Parks Service was created in 1984.
– Creation of the First (1st) African University Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan (1981) which has now metermorphosed into several others across Africa.
– Pioneer Head, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan (1981- 1987)
– Pioneer Dean, College of Environmental Resources Management, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB, 1988).
– Pioneer Director, Centre for Environmental Protection and Natural Resources (1999). e.t.c.
Professor Ajayi served as Vice President, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN 1997 – 2000) and also served as a consultant to the United Nations /Food and Agriculture Organization (UN/FAO) for over 25 years. Furthermore, he has served as consultant to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), World Bank, UNDP, German Foundation for International Development, e.t.c.
He retired after 40 years of meritorious service in University of Ibadan (1969 – 2009) and was subsequently appointed as a Visiting Professor and Technical Adviser, Federal Ministry of Education (2010). In 2014, he was appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan as a Member, National Council on Shelterbelt and Afforestation and Ministerial Council on Great GreenWall. Seth Ajayi was appointed Professor Emeritus in 2017 among 84 nominees.
He is a Fellow of Zoological Society of London, Institute of Biology London, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Linean Society of London, Strategic Institute for Natural Resources and Human Development, Institute of Industrial Administration, London e.t.c.
Prof. Emeritus Seth Sunday Ajayi is a recipient of several National and International awards such as:
– 1994 United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Global 500 Roll of Honour, for outstanding practical achievements in the area of Environmental Protection.
– Nigeria National Merit Award – Science (2013). The higest honour by the Federal Government of Nigeria bestowed on Nigerian Intellectuals for their contribution to Innovation and National Development.
– Academic Noble International Award, Institute of Industrial Administration, United Kingdom (2009). e.t.c.
Prof. Ajayi is the father of Modern Wildlife Conservation in Africa. His scholarly antecedents has shown that a lot can be achieved silently without undue self advertisement.