A Professor of Applied Entomology and Pest Management at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Prof. Olufunmilayo Oladipo, has called for insects such as bees, silkworms, houseflies and other beneficial species to be treated as valuable national resources capable of strengthening food security, boosting public health, and driving economic diversification in Nigeria.
She made the call while delivering the University’s 193rd Inaugural Lecture on February 24, 2026, titled “Six-Legged Arthropods: Food Security, Health and National Economic Development.”
Insects as Economic Assets
Prof. Oladipo highlighted the honeybee as a prime example of the economic value of insects, explaining that beyond honey production, bees also provide beeswax, royal jelly, propolis and venom, all of which are used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. She added that pollination services by bees significantly increase crop yields, improve biodiversity, and enhance overall agricultural productivity.
She also pointed to silkworms as critical to the textile industry through silk production, which supports export earnings and job creation. Other insects, including black soldier flies, houseflies, locusts, grasshoppers, mealworms and crickets, are increasingly being utilised in the production of high-protein livestock and aquaculture feeds. According to her, this reduces Nigeria’s dependence on costly imported feed ingredients.
In addition, she referenced termites and dung beetles for their vital role in nutrient recycling and soil aeration, which improve soil fertility and crop yields. Beneficial insects such as ladybird beetles and parasitic wasps, she noted, serve as natural biological control agents, reducing pest populations without harming the environment.
Public Health and Economic Implications
While acknowledging the positive contributions of insects, Prof. Oladipo also emphasised the economic burden posed by insect vectors. She described the economic toll of vector-borne diseases as “staggering,” affecting households, reducing workforce productivity, and constraining national growth.
She stressed the importance of managing disease vectors such as mosquitoes and tsetse flies in combating malaria, yellow fever, dengue and sleeping sickness. Citing available data, she noted that malaria alone costs Africa over $12 billion annually in healthcare expenses, lost productivity and reduced investment. Beyond mortality, she said insect-borne diseases also contribute to chronic disability and workforce inefficiency.
However, she highlighted promising innovations such as maggot therapy currently practiced in teaching hospitals in Kano, Nigeria, for treating chronic diabetic wounds. She also referenced medicinal compounds derived from fungus-insect complexes like Bombyx batryticatus and Beauveria bassiana, which have demonstrated anticonvulsant, anticancer, antifungal, anticoagulant and hypolipidemic properties. Other insect-derived substances, including bee venom and cantharidin from blister beetles, were noted for their immune-boosting, anti-diabetic and antiviral applications.
She argued that strategic government investment in entomotherapy could reduce dependence on imported pharmaceuticals, strengthen healthcare delivery and contribute to economic diversification.
Call for Sustainable Pest Management
Prof. Oladipo advocated Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies that prioritise environmentally friendly approaches such as botanicals, pheromones, biological control agents, growth regulators and semiochemicals. She warned that excessive reliance on synthetic insecticides has led to resistance, environmental pollution and harm to non-target organisms.
She further called for stricter regulation of pesticide importation and use under professional supervision, as well as stronger surveillance to prevent the introduction of exotic pest species.
Strengthening Research and Capacity
To enhance Nigeria’s capacity in entomology, the professor urged the establishment of more Departments of Entomology in universities, increased support for insect rearing and conservation of beneficial species, and stronger collaboration between academia and industry to commercialise research findings.
She also appealed for increased research funding and targeted scholarships for brilliant but indigent students in science-based disciplines, stressing that nurturing the next generation of entomologists and agricultural scientists is essential for national development. She underscored the need for improved food storage and preservation systems to reduce post-harvest losses caused by insect infestation.
Vice-Chancellor Commends Lecturer
Presenting the inaugural lecturer, the Vice-Chancellor of FUTA, Adenike Oladiji, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Sunday Oluyamo, described Prof. Oladipo as a distinguished scholar whose research has significantly advanced entomology and strengthened the University’s academic profile.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the lecture was timely, given Nigeria’s ongoing challenges in food security, public health and economic diversification. She commended Prof. Oladipo’s scholarly depth, resilience and dedication to mentoring students, reaffirming FUTA’s commitment to research that addresses pressing national development priorities.
