Sylvester Aigbe is one of our ’40 Faces of Plant Pathology’
BSPP members can be found in 51 different countries, with 30% of members based in countries outside of the UK. As part of the BSPPs 40th anniversary, we asked our membership to describe some things about themselves, what plant pathology challenges they would most like to see solved, and what could improve the world of plant pathology in terms of inclusivity. Click here to return to 40 Faces Home Page.
Sylvester Aigbe
Institution and country of residence
Ambrose Alli University, Nigeria
Position title
Associate Professor
Area of expertise/study
Fusarium pathogens of tropical vegetables, Oomycete pathogens of cacao, Molecular diagnostic of fungal plant pathogens, Molecular diagnostic of Fusarium pathogens on exotic vegetables in the UK, Biological control of fungal plant pathogens and Suppressing fungal plant diseases using nanoparticles.
About your early experiences in education
During my early education years, I have always loved and admired Scientists and innovators and passionately desired to be one. I am glad to be living my dream today as the most senior plant pathologist in my university and one of the leading voices for plant pathology in my country, Nigeria. For a long time, the plant pathology profession was a lonely one in my country as we did not have a national plant pathology society to bring us together for networking, interaction and exchange of information. My rich professional experiences, drawn from my membership interactions/attendance at APS, CPS and BSPP annual meetings, motivated me to lead the formation/sustenance of the Phytopathological Society of Nigeria (PSN) in 2011; started initially as a Yahoo Group in 2008. PSN today has membership throughout Nigeria, 2 peer-reviewed journal publications, an MoU with APS and actively participated/featured in ICPP2018, in Boston. I am also today recognized as a Phytopathologist of Distinction (ISPP, ICPP2018) and a global talent/promising leader in plant pathology (UK Govt/Royal Society).
If you could solve one problem in plant pathology, what would it be?
Drastically reduce the enormous crop losses due to the activities of plant pathogens in Nigeria.
If you could solve one issue relating to inclusivity and diversity within the field of plant pathology what would it be?
All international organizations; including the UN should be 100% plant health compliant and should also advocate for/making plant health everyone’s business. Memberships/patronage of all international organizations; including the UN should be plant health compliant. Plant Health should be everyone’s business; we should all support, encourage and promote Plant Health!
If you weren’t a plant pathologist, what would you be?
A social worker.
