A Professor of Applied Mycology at the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, Oluseyi Damilola Adejoye, has made a case for the cultivation of mushrooms for the remediation of the oil-polluted Niger Delta area, particularly Ogoniland.
Professor Adejoye, who is also the dean, College of Science and Information Technology (COSIT) at the institution, gave the recommendation while delivering TASUED’s 23rd Inaugural Lecture entitled ‘Fungi Are Frieds Not Foes: Contributions of Mushrooms to Food Production and Environmental Management’.
He said, “In the restless Niger Delta where oil pollution has paralysed crop farming and fishing activities, mushroom farming can be a veritable alternative.”
According to him, the spent compost (a by-product of mushroom cultivation) can be ploughed into the oil-polluted soil as a means of bio-remediation, which may constitute an economically viable approach to promoting environmental management.
“The accumulation of waste in the environment is on the increase and poses a significant environmental problem. The common methods of remediation of these wastes are through burning and the use of chemicals which by itself is another source of contaminants in the environment.
“A safe and economical way of remediation of these wastes is through the use of mushrooms, a process called myco-remediation.
“Nigerian mushrooms are potential candidates for this process,” he noted further.
While enumerating the benefits of mushrooms and fungi, Professor Adejoye noted that the extensive campaign on mushroom cultivation/growing through teaching can be taken to secondary schools and tertiary institutions as an entrepreneurial skill, capable of reducing the problem of unemployment and poverty among youths.
He also emphasised the medicinal properties of mushrooms, noting that mushrooms have important health benefits and exhibit a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, including anti-allergic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antidepressant, antidiabetic, and antihypertensive activities.
He further stated that what the ancient cultures have known about the effects of mushrooms in promoting health and vitality as well as increasing the body’s adaptive abilities has recently been confirmed by his research.
Other benefits of mushrooms to man as enumerated by Prof Adejoye include enzyme production.
“Enzymes have played a crucial role in the challenges of mankind through the use of different kinds of biological systems for a diversity of applications.
“They are proteins that break down and convert compounds to produce simple products. Fungal enzymes are compatible, efficient, and proper products for many uses in medicinal applications, industrial processing, bio-remediation processes, and agricultural applications,” he noted, adding that mushrooms are also edible, thus serving as food.
The event attracted eminent personalities from all walks of life, distinguished members of the academia, and members of the university community.
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