By Waziri Isa Gwantu (Group Editor-in-chief)
Professor Vincent Ado Tenebe, fondly known as “VAT”, was recently honored at the BSN GMO and Vaccine National Symposium in Abuja. The symposium was held in his honor, a testament to his remarkable contributions to the field of biotechnology.
As the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN), Professor Tenebe has been a vocal advocate for GMOs and vaccines.
Eminent Nigerian scientists and BSN members praised Professor Tenebe, describing him as a great, selfless, and renowned scientist. His dedication to promoting biotechnology in Nigeria has been unwavering, and his leadership has inspired a new generation of scientists.
The one-day symposium, themed, ‘GMOs and Vaccines: Myths, Prospects and Advances’, declared open by NOUN’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Olufemi A. Peters, brought together esteemed scientists from within and outside Nigeria. Notable attendees included Dr. Sylvester Oikeh, TELA’s Project Manager from Nairobi, and Professor Oyewale Tomori, former Vice Chancellor of Redeemer’s University.
Professor Peters lauded Professor Tenebe as a rare leader and scientist, highlighting his immense contributions to the scientific community. BSN President, Professor Sylvia Uzochukwu, commended Professor Tenebe as an exceptional scientist and advocate of GMOs and vaccines, underscoring his tireless efforts to advance biotechnology in Nigeria.
Other attendees who praised Professor Tenebe’s contributions included Professor Dickson A Musa, the Director of Trans-Saharan Disease Research Centre, IBB University Lapai, and Professor Benjamin Ubi, the immediate past chairman of BSN.
During the symposium, all the scientists, including Professor Tenebe, unanimously agreed that GMOs approved by the National Biosafety Management Agency are safe for humans, the environment, and livestock, and therefore not harmful as being propagated by adversaries of Africa, particularly Nigeria.
In his remarks, Professor Tenebe expressed gratitude to BSN for the honor and thanked God for the recognition. He also acknowledged his friends, primary, secondary, and university mates, and associates who attended the symposium from far and wide.
Professor Tenebe’s impressive educational background laid the foundation for his remarkable career. He began his academic journey at St. Patrick Primary School in Maiduguri, where he earned his Primary School Leaving Certificate from 1965 to 1971. He then attended Government Secondary School, Yerwa, Maiduguri, Nigeria, and obtained his West African School Certificate in 1976.
Professor Tenebe furthered his education at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Agriculture degree cum laude. He also obtained his Master’s degree in Agronomy from the same institution. Later, he earned his Ph.D. in Agronomy from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
Professor Sylvia Uzochukwu
Professor Tenebe’s distinguished career is marked by various leadership roles and academic achievements. He started as a Graduate Assistant at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in 1984 and later became the Head of the University Farm in 1988.
By 1995, he had risen to the position of Head of the Department of Crop Production. His academic prowess earned him a professorship in Agronomy at African University of Science and Technology, Bauchi, in 2003. Professor Tenebe then took on administrative roles, serving as Deputy Vice Chancellor of National Open University of Nigeria in 2008 and later as Vice Chancellor from 2010 to 2016. In 2017, he became the Vice Chancellor of Taraba State University.
Throughout his career, Professor Tenebe has demonstrated exceptional leadership and academic excellence, inspiring generations of students and scholars.
