A Professor of Medical and Applied Entomology at the Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu, Lagos, Prof Abiodun Denloye, has called on the Nigerian government to intensify education on both harmful and beneficial insects, highlighting their potential in crime investigation and food security.
Denloye made this call while delivering the first inaugural lecture of LASUSTECH titled “Lessons From Ants: Odyssey of an Insect Hunter.”
Denloye, who is also the institution’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), spoke on the multifaceted roles of insects, warning that they should not always be viewed as threats.
Denloye called the attention of investigators and security agents to the forensic applications of insects.
He said, “Insects serve as food, they serve as a means for economy, they serve for circulating economy and blue economy because there are insects that are found in water.
“Insects can also be useful in crime investigation. We can also use the insects as a way to detect crime, for example, we can use it to estimate the time of death if there was a murder case.”
He explained that some species of insects are essential in agriculture, pest management, and the food chain, while others can be tapped as a sustainable source of animal protein for humans.
He said, “The government need to create awareness about detrimental insects, and they need to create awareness about insects that are beneficial to humans so that we can actually go into cultivation of where they serve.
“We can exploit the potential of insects to complement the animal protein currently consumed and strengthen the economy, including sectors like the blue economy.”
Commenting on the lecture, the Provost of the Postgraduate College at Lagos State University of Education, Prof Okedeyi Abiodun, described it as impactful and rich in practical research.
He said Denloye’s work provides solutions for controlling pests like cockroaches in homes, while demonstrating the broader significance of insects to society and the economy.
The lecture was attended by students, researchers, and academics.
