…as new Faculty of Life Sciences holds maiden Lecture seminar series
By Wole Balogun
S A Media to VC
Malaria is one of the several diseases spread by mosquitoes who carry the parasite. The ailment is widespread in Africa and in Nigeria in particular and this deserves urgent and adequate attention to save lives. Prof. Hilary l. Okoh is a Professor of Public Health Entomology and Parasitology of the Faculty of Life Sciences, Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE). The astute scholar recently alerted the government and health stakeholders on the dire need to carry out insecticide susceptibility tests on local mosquito population before deploying insecticide – based interventions. His recommendation was given based on his findings in a recent research on mosquitoes found in some parts of Ekiti State.
Prof. Ajiboye makes presentation to Prof. Okoh after his lecture.
He shared the wealth of knowledge he gathered from the research during the maiden edition of the Faculty’s seminar series held on December 10, 2025 at one of the main halls of the Faculty on the Oye main campus of the University.
Prof. Fasina, FUOYE VC
Chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, who was ably represented by his amiable and dedicated Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Tajudeen Bolanle Opoola, and hosted chiefly by the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Basiru Ajiboye, the knowledge sharing event was well attended by Faculty members and associates, colleagues from other Faculties in the University as well as students of the University who occasionally applauded the Lecturers whenever they shared their views on the seminar topic by Prof. Okoh.
Prof. Okoh during his lecture
While the Vice-Chancellor in his remarks, appreciated the Faculty Dean, Prof Ajiboye, and Faculty members for their effort in organizing the landmark event, Prof. Ajiboye eulogized the Vice-Chancellor and his management team for their visionary and exemplary leadership that has transformed the University tremendously in many facets in the past almost five years of the VC’s tenure.
Members of the high table at the event
Prof. Ajiboye noted in particular, that the VC’s visionary leadership had given birth to the dynamic Faculty of Life Sciences as well as other new Faculties of the University, bringing giant strides to the greatness of the University.
Prof. Okoh was very insightful in his lecture which he titled: “Larval Habitat Characterization and lnsecticide Susceptibility Pattern of Anopheles Mosquitoes in Ekiti State , Southwest Nigeria”.
The highlights of the lecture include his major findings and recommendations which are, Mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting several disease pathogens to man leading to the following diseases: Malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, Zika fever, chikungunya, and a whole lot of others!; Malaria is the most important of all diseases transmitted by mosquitoes in Nigeria for the following reasons; According to WHO, the African Region was responsible for 94% of malaria cases (246 million) and 95% (569, 000) of malaria deaths globally in year 2024
Students of FUOYE and mainly if the Faculty in rapt attention during the lecture.
Other highlights are, five countries – Nigeria (24.3%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12.5%), Uganda (4.7%), Ethiopia (4.4%) and Mozambique (3.6%) – contributed nearly half (49.5%) of all cases; Children under 5 years accounted for about 76% of all malaria deaths in the Region; malaria Stops children from going to school thereby making them backward!!!; Malaria is associated with one tenth of maternal deaths in Nigeria; Causes anaemia (low blood) in pregnant women
Prof. Opoola representing the VC, beside his from Left is Prof. Olayide Lawal.
He also pinpointed that malaria causes abortion and low birth weight babies in pregnancy if not treated, ; leads to inability to work, thereby bringing about poverty in the family.
Prof Okoh went further to describe Malaria as a life-threatening parasitic disease caused by Plasmodium parasites and transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheline mosquitoes. Explication more, he said:
“The life cycle of mosquitoes occurs both in water and on land. Female Anopheles mosquitoes lay their eggs in water. The eggs hatch to larvae, which changes to pupa before shedding its skin to become an adult and exit the water for land. Control of mosquitoes therefore involves attacking the larvae stage in water and adult stage on land.
He itemized mosquito control measures as, Environmental Management; Indoor Residual Spray (IRS); Use of Personal protection and knock- down
insecticides and repellants; Larvae Source Management (LSM) either with larvicides or biological organisms; Long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLIN)”. The erudite of Professor of Parasitology, also defined key terminologies which he deployed in his lecture, hence he said Larval Habitat characterization, is ” …simply documenting the physico – chemical properties of stagnant waters that are positive for mosquito larvae. “
Speaking further, he added that: “There is a World Health Organisation (WHO) form that can be used or modified for the purpose. Mosquitoes do not just lay their eggs anywhere; they carefully select suitable breeding habitat based on certain criteria before egg laying to ensure larval survival.”
Stressing on the importance of his research, he said: “..Knowing what type of larval habitat individual mosquito species prefer allows people to target their larval control activities in the right area and not waste limited resources inspecting every possible habitat for the presence of mosquito larvae; Physico- chemical parameters can be altered to discourage breeding e.g., in abandoned fish pond and blocked canals, instead of wasting insecticides”, he explained..
Prof. Okoh presented his findings which are very useful for the society. He said : “
Our findings show that the preferred breeding habitats for anopheles mosquitoes in Ekiti State are temporary sites. The reason might be that the mosquitoes try to avoid permanent sites which are usually targets of larviciding activities. They therefore chose sites that are small in size which might be ignored during larviciding activities.
“Anopheles mosquitoes in six LGAs sampled in Ekiti state have been documented to be resistant to all classes of WHO insecticides including pyrethroids used for LLIN impregnation. This is a dangerous trend as it may compromise the efficacy of LLIN, which is the main control tool for vectors in the state. There is therefore a need to carry out insecticide susceptibility tests on local mosquito population before deploying insecticide – based interventions”, he recommended.
