A Nigerian professor, Monioluwa Omolara Olaniyi, has raised an alarm on how tiny plant worms, known as nematodes, silently destroy crops and reduce farm yields. Olaniyi, a Professor of Nematology at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), spoke during the university’s 36th inaugural lecture, titled “Managing Plant Worm Adversaries: Safeguarding the Environment, Sustaining Our Daily Bread.”
She explained that these worms are tiny and hide inside the soil, attacking the roots of crops. Once they enter, they make the plants weak and also open the way for other diseases to attack. According to her, many farmers are unaware of what is happening. They think their crops are suffering from a lack of water or poor soil nutrients, but in reality, nematodes are the problem.
Olaniyi said these worms affect almost every kind of food crop in Nigeria, including vegetables, cereals, yams, cassava, and beans. The result is poor harvests and loss of income for farmers. She regretted that factors like climate change, planting one type of crop for too long (monocropping), and the use of poor-quality seeds make the situation worse.
She linked her research to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those on Zero Hunger, Climate Action, and Life on Land. She stressed that farmers need methods that are both effective and friendly to the environment. She admonished that rather than using too many chemicals, farmers should adopt proper farm hygiene, early detection, and biological control methods that protect both crops and the ecosystem.
Olaniyi also spoke about her work in training young scientists and postgraduate students, stating that research should not only remain in the lab but also benefit farmers in the field. She noted that NOUN, even as an Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institution, is building strong research facilities to support practical agricultural studies.
The Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, praised her lecture, saying it shows how universities can provide solutions to Nigeria’s food security challenges. The Vice-Chancellor added that an inaugural lecture like the one rendered by Professor Olaniyi is an important opportunity for sharing knowledge that can change lives, not just in Nigeria, but globally.
In her closing words, Olaniyi thanked her family, mentors, colleagues, and students, and promised to continue her research on nematology to help Nigerian farmers and contribute to global food security.
