OBANI FLORENCE TOCHI

ASSISTANT LECTURER

Biography

A. PERSONAL DATA

NAME Tochi Florence OBANI (Ph.D)

NATIONALITY Nigerian

DEPARTMENT Plant Health Management

B. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ATTENDED (WITH DATES)

2012-2016 University of Ibadan, Nigeria

2010-2011 University of Ibadan, Nigeria

2003-2008 Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike

1995-2001 Olokoro High School, Umuahia , Abia State

ACADEMIC / PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS WITH DATES

2016 Ph.D (Plant Pathology)

2011 M. Sc (Plant Pathology)

2008 B. Agric (Hons) Second Class Upper Division

2002 Senior Secondary School Certificate

CERTIFICATE COURSES

Certificate in statistical analysis using SAS package, IITA Ibadan 2011

Certificate in statistical analysis using SPSS package, IITA Ibadan 2012

Certificate in breeding for resistance to plant diseases, Department of Crop

Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan in

collaboration with Texas A & M University 2011

Proficiency certificate in Management, Nigerian Institute of Management 2009

PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE MOUAU

2015-2016 Senior Research Supervisor

Employer International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan

Responsibility: Prepared draft reports and scientific papers for publication

Data management, analysis and interpretation using Microsoft excel and SAS package. Maintained an efficient filing system and databases for data. Generated, electronic files/documents on aflatoxin biocontrol activities and projects. Trained, visiting scientists, new staff and students on laboratory procedures and results reporting

2013-2014 Research Supervisor

Employer International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan

Responsibility: Data management, analysis and interpretation using Microsoft exceL and SAS package, Isolation and identification of different fungal species from different crops analysed and quantified aflatoxin using thin layer chromatographic (TLC) plates and camag scanner and neogen kits. Trained new staff and IT students on aflatoxin extraction procedures.

2010-2012 M.Sc. internship

Employer International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan

Responsibility: Extracted toxin from Aspergillus infected maize grains. Analysed aflatoxin using thin layer chromatographic (TLC) plates. Isolation of Aspergillus sp. from contaminated corn kernels. Field and laboratory inoculation of maize lines to screen for aflatoxin resistance.

WORK EXPERIENCE IN MOUAU

2015 – Present Assistant Lecturer

Employer Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike

Responsibility: Teaching of Crop protection courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Research focus on postharvest Pathology and biocontrol of postharvest fungi. Supervision of students’ projects and other administrative duties.

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE

DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATION

ICT Officer Department of Health Management, MOUAU, 2017 – date

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES

Mycotoxicology Society of Nigeria (MYCOTOXSON)

PUBLICATIONS

Journal articles

Ezekiel, C. N, Anokwuru, C. P, Amos-Tautua, B. M. W., Ejiofor, E. E., Oriola, O. R, Obani, T.,

Olajuyigbe, O. O. (2014). Ashanti pepper (Piper guineense) reduces aflatoxin formation in

poorly stored maize grain. New York Science Journal 7(9):64-71].(ISSN: 1554-0200).

http://www.sciencepub.net/newyork.

Opara, E.U. and Obani F.T. (2009). Performance of some plant extracts and pesticides

in the control of bacterial spot disease of solanum. Solanum. Medwell Journals, Journal of Agriculture, 4 (5), 520-523.

PUBLICATIONS IN PROGRESS

Obani, F. T., Atehnkeng, J., Ikotun, B. and Bandyopadhyay. (Under review).Occurrence of aflatoxin in Colocynthis citrullus L. (egusi) kernels in Southwestern Nigeria.

Obani, F. T., Atehnkeng, J., Ikotun, B. and Bandyopadhyay.. (Under review).Natural occurrence of aflatoxin in different egusi types found in Nigeria

Obani, F. T. and Ikotun, B.. (Under review). Effects of storage fungi on the nutrient composition of egusi melon Kernels

Obani, F. T., Atehnkeng, J., Ikotun, B. and Bandyopadhyay. (Under review). Effects of botanicals on Aspergillus and aflatoxin production in Egusi melon seeds

CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS ATTENDED

The Mycotoxicology Society of Nigeria (MYCOTOXSON) Conference, The Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti. 24th 26th July 2013, “Ado Ekiti 2013” “Occurrence of Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxins in egusi-melon seeds”.

The Mycotoxicology Society of Nigeria (MYCOTOXSON) National Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria “NIOMOR 2012”;“Screening of Experimental Maize hybrids for Aspergillus flavus contamination and aflatoxin production”.

Nigerian Mycotoxin Awareness and Study Network (NMASN) Conference, National Horticultural Research Institute, Idi-Ishin, Ibadan, Nigeria “NIHORT 2011

soil amendment and insect control. 2013.

SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDS, DISTINCTION AND FELLOWSHIPS

2009: Best graduating student in the Department of Plant Health Mgt (2008/2009 session)

2009: Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) full M.Sc Scholarship at University of Ibadan (2010-2011)

2010-2012: Research Scholar; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAININGS

– Aflatoxin testing Using TLC Scanner

– Breeding for resistance to plant diseases

RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS

2010-2011 Research Scholar at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan

Research Activities: Screened maize lines for aflatoxin resistance both in the field and the laboratory

SKILLS

Spreadsheet – MS Excel

Integrated – MS PowerPoint

Word Processing – MS Word

Statistical – SAS

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

English: Excellent

French: Elementary

EXTRA CURRICULAR

Travelling, Reading Cooking