The Postharvest & Agroprocessing Research Centre (PARC) welcomed Professor Charles Oluwaseun Adetunji for a week-long academic visit aimed at deepening continental collaboration and advancing research excellence. Prof Adetunji, Director of Research and Innovation at Edo State University Uzairue in Nigeria, is a leading figure in microbiology, biotechnology, and nanotechnology. His visit from 19 to 23 May 2025 exemplified the power of African-led scientific exchange and the strategic role of universities in nurturing cross-border academic partnerships.
The visit featured a series of high-impact engagements:
- A public lecture that attracted a diverse audience of students and faculty
- A strategic roundtable with postdoctoral fellows on collaborative research pathways
- A masterclass for postgraduate students focused on impactful and community-oriented research leadership
“These engagements are at the core of our mission to expose emerging scientists to global standards of innovation while celebrating African excellence,” said Prof Olaniyi A. Fawole, Director of PARC and SARChI Chair in Sustainable Preservation & Agroprocessing.
Prof Adetunji’s insights and mentorship provided a platform for fresh academic dialogue and highlighted the importance of research that addresses real-world challenges, particularly in the Global South. His visit enriched the intellectual atmosphere at UJ and also reinforced the university’s standing as a continental hub for transformative, interdisciplinary research.
Prof Charles Oluwaseun Adetunji (right) pictured with Prof Olaniyi Fawole (left), Director of PARC, and Prof Edward Venter (centre), Head of the Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology, after delivering his public lecture at the University of Johannesburg Library on 20 May 2025
PARC postdoctoral research fellows, senior researchers and staff joined Prof Charles Oluwaseun Adetunji and Prof Olaniyi Fawole for a networking lunch at STH Restaurant following a strategic roundtable discussion on collaborative research and innovation, held on 22 May 2025
- Date: 13 May 2025
- Location: DLES 103, Auckland Park Kingsway Campus