TITLE (PROF/DR/): DR.

NAME: AMIDU OWOLABI AYENI

POSITION: ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR SPECIALISATION: Environmental Geography,    Resource Analysis, Climate Change and GIS

EDUCATION/TRAINING (Begin with Bachelor’s degree or other initial professional education, such as nursing, include postdoctoral training and residency training if applicable. Add/delete rows as necessary.)

Personal Statement

I obtained my Ph.D. from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, in 2011. Driven by a passion for environmental research and innovation, I advanced my academic career through a postdoctoral fellowship at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria, South Africa, during 2011/2012. There, I collaborated with three multidisciplinary research groups: Earth Observation, Hydro-Sciences Research, and Global Change & Ecosystem Dynamics. These experiences significantly broadened my scientific perspective and reinforced my commitment to impactful environmental research. My core research interests lie in the fields of environmental studies, resource analysis, climate change adaptation, and geo-information sciences. I have developed strong expertise in these areas, and I remain deeply engaged in translating scientific knowledge into practical solutions that address global environmental challenges. Over the years, I have undertaken advanced training in cutting-edge methodologies, including: Spatial Agent-Based Modelling at the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC), Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Environmental Hydrology for Water Security at the University of Twente (ITC), Enschede, Netherlands; Water Resources in Developing Countries at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy. Currently, I am an Associate Professor of at the Department of Geography, University of Lagos, where I contribute to academic leadership, research, and mentorship. My scholarly output includes over 80 peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals and academic books. I am also actively involved in various professional networks, including the African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment (AARSE) and the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS). Through my academic and professional journey, I have remained committed to advancing environmental knowledge, fostering innovation, and mentoring the next generation of scholars and practitioners. My goal is to continue contributing to global sustainability discourse through research, collaboration, and policy-relevant science.

Positions, Scientific Appointments, and Honours

• Co-Vice Chair, UNILAG SPGS Events Taskforce Committee 2022 – 2023
• Member, University of Lagos (UNILAG) Housing Committee 2020 – 2022
• President, UNILAG Senior Staff Club (ULSSC)2020 – 2022
• President, UNILAG Academic Cooperative Multipurpose Society Ltd 2018 – 2022
• Sub-Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS), University of Lagos 2019 – 2021
• Visiting Fellow, Africa Climate Change Fellowship Program (ACCFP), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria – South Africa 2011 – 2012
• Research Fellow, Third Regional IDRC / COPEH-WCA/ Award for Sub-Sahara Africa. 2008 – 2010.
• State Merit Award (NYSC, Plateau State), 2003
• University of Ilorin Departmental Prize for the Best Student in Geography, 2002

Selected Most Recent Publications /Contributions to Knowledge

1. Ayeni, A.O., G. Aborisade, F.O. Aiyegbajeje and A. S. O. Soneye (2025): The Dynamics of Peri-Urban Expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for Sustainable Development in Nigeria and Ghana. Discov Sustain 6, 290, https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00742-0Publisher: Springer.
2. Ayeni, A. O., F. Afonja and J. O. Faloju (2025): “Harnessing Language, Adult Education, and Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Urban Agriculture in Lagos” In: Harnessing Indigenous Epistemologies for Sustainable Progress, IGI Global, 341-366, https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-8447-3.ch016Publisher: IGI Global, USA.
3. Echebiri, F.O., A. A. Abayomi, N. O. Oladosu, O. Ayeni, T. A. Adesalu, K. O. Olayinka and B. I. Alo (2023):  Effects of physicochemical and sediment–mineral dynamics on phosphorus concentration and biological productivity in Lagos coastal waters. Aquat Sci 85, 67 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-023-00965-9Publisher: Springer.
4. Ayeni, A. O., A. G. Aborisade, T. O. Onuminya, A. S. O. Soneye and O. T. Ogundipe (2023): Urban Development in Africa and Impact on Biodiversity. Curr Landscape Ecol Rep (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40823-023-00086-xPublisher: Springer.
5. Soneye, A. S. O., O. Ayeniand E. O. Ijezei (2025): An Assessment of the Effect of Land Use/Land Cover on Climate Variability: Case of Lagos Metropolis, Southwest Nigeria, Nigeria Geographical Journal, Special Issue (published in honour of Prof. A. S. Gbadegesin): 44 – 56. Publisher: Association of Nigerian Geographer, Nigeria

Collaborators/ Networks International inclusive

1. Evison Kapangaziwiri, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
2. Jimmy Adegoke, University of Missouri, USA,

• Moses Azong Cho, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa

1. Godwin Oghenebrozie Atedhor, University of Benin, Nigeria
2. Akeem Akindele Abayomi, University of Lagos, Nigeria