Dr. Peter Osobase Aikpokpodion

MBBS (Sydney), FRACS (Paediatric Surgery)

Associate Professor of Plant Breeding, Molecular Genetics and Genetic Resources Management in the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology with research interest in plant breeding and cultivar development, application of molecular techniques in genetic resources (diversity) management and utilization, marker-assisted selection (MAS), physiological genetics, host plant-pathogen interaction, breeding for resistance and end-use quality considerations, reproductive biology, plant adaptation studies, climate-smart agriculture and participatory plant breeding.  He obtained B.Sc. (Agric) Crop Science (1989), M.Sc. Agronomy in Crop Science (1998) and Ph.D. in Plant Breeding in the Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan in 2007. Before joining University of Calabar in 2010, he was a Chief Research Officer (Plant Breeding) at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria. With a strong background in research, industry linkages and knowledge driven policy development, he brings experience into teaching and post-graduate student research supervision. He has supervised and co-supervised three PhD and five MSc students. Some of his research contributions include Development of eight new cocoa hybrids officially registered and released in December 2010; Assessment of genetic diversity in cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) germplasm in Nigeria and West Africa; Nigerian field genebank and on-farm genetic diversity in cacao, Theobroma cacao L., for the management and utilization of the genetic resources available.  A reputable cocoa breeder, Dr. Aikpokpodion’s contributions to the cocoa industry include the development and official release of eight new cocoa hybrids (CRINTc1-8) now distributed to farmers in Nigeria and his unraveling of the genetic diversity of Nigeria’s cocoa field gene-banks and farm plantations. Dr. Aikpokpodion has managed several research projects and a recipient of scientific and industry awards including the USAID-administered Norman Borluag LEAP Fellowship 2006 and the 2014 Nigeria’s Cocoa Value Chain Team Player Award. Dr. Aikpokpodion also served as Technical Advisor & Team Leader, Cocoa Value Chain Development of the Nigeria’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (2011 to 2015). He is married with children.