By Ayo Arowojolu
Today, June 5, 2024, at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), a distinguished expert in the area of Communication and Teaching English as a Second Language, Prof. Helen Aduke Bodunde, steps into the podium to celebrate knowledge as the university’s 91st Inaugural Lecturer.
Prof Bodunde who is of the Department of Communication and General Studies (CGNS), College of Agricultural Management and Rural Development (COLAMRUD) is capping an impressive academic trajectory spanning several years and over three decades.
The Inaugural Lecture is holding before a mammoth crowd at the Oluwafemi Balogun Ceremonial Building on campus by 2pm.
Titled “Eliminating the Avoidable Gulf Between Knowledge and Development,” the lecture aims to explore and bridge the unnecessary gap between academic knowledge and practical development.
The Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Prof. Olusola Babatunde Kehinde will preside over the event as the Chief Host.
Prof. Helen Aduke Bodunde was born in Ayede, Ekiti State, Nigeria in1957 to Are-Ekiti born parents. She had her elementary and secondary schools in Ilupeju and Ayede Ekiti respectively.
Her tertiary education were at the Adeyemi College of Education, University of Benin where she obtained National Certificate in Education(English/Physical and Health Education) and Bachelor Education Degree in English respectively.
She later proceeded for her Masters degree in Educational Psychology at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kano and thereafter, a PhD in Teaching English as Second Language(TESL) in the same University.
Her wealth of experience spans over 30 years in teaching, research, and extension in higher education and 10 years in the basic and secondary education.
She has taught the Use of English for Academic purpose and to students of Agriculture, Engineering, Food Technology; Advanced Business Communication to MBA students; Essentials of Scholarly Writing, Research Methodology and Communication Ethics to Post Graduate students.
Prof. Bodunde’s research interests are in using emerging technologies in enhancing learning process in the tertiary institutions, particularly in Communication and English language teaching, Language issues in Education, Gender and Adolescent issues, Monitoring and Evaluation.
She has been involved in training workshops for journalists; teachers and students at secondary and tertiary levels.
She has published over 65 articles in international and national outlets in the areas of Communication and Language, the effect of emerging technologies on learning and print media, and the roles of journalists in projecting sustainable development goals.
Today’s Inaugural Lecturer has also co-written many books on language skills and communication for students of secondary and tertiary institutions.
Prof. Bodunde was once the Deputy Dean of College of Agricultural Management, FUNAAB (2007-2009); Director of Graduate Records and Career Centre (2009-2011) ; the Head of Department of Communication and General Studies at Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB) from 2013-2018 July; and the first Dean of Students of Federal University, Oye (FUOYE)(2012-2013).
She is presently the Chairperson, Publication Committee of FUNAAB and the Team Leader of Editorial Collective of English Language Teaching Today, a journal of National Association of Teachers and Researchers in English as a second (NATRESL), Nigeria, an Association she joined in 2004.
She is also a member and Technical team of Civil Societies Coalition on Development Goals.
In the course of her career, she has mentored many girls, boys and women. An experience that led to the birth of a Non-Governmental Organisation: Education, Gender, Youth and Family Network ( EduGUF-N), which has empowered many women and coached young girls and boys in discovering their potentials.
Attendees are encouraged to be seated by 1:30 p.m. However, for those unable to attend in person, the lecture will be accessible virtually on Zoom.
