By Ayo Onikoyi

Amid the growing global concern over biodiversity loss and the urgent need to protect aquatic ecosystems, Dr. Segun Oladipo, a conservationist and zoologist, is leading a revolution in Nigeria’s environmental and ecological research landscape.

With an unwavering focus on the conservation of rare and endangered aquatic species, particularly in Nigeria’s coastal and freshwater ecosystems, Dr. Oladipo’s body of work is not only prolific but pioneering, offering a beacon of hope for sustainable marine biodiversity conservation in West Africa.

A Lecturer in the Department of Zoology at Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria, Dr. Oladipo has amassed an impressive portfolio of research, fieldwork, and scientific contributions over the past decade.

His scholarly journey, from a BSc in Zoology at the University of Ilorin to a PhD from the same institution, has been defined by a passion for fish ecology and species conservation. His academic roots are deeply embedded in ecology and environmental biology, having earned MSc from the University of Ibadan.

Speaking to his motivation, Dr. Oladipo remarks, “The marine and freshwater ecosystems in Nigeria hold enormous ecological value, yet they are among the most under-researched and threatened.

“I believe that with science-driven conservation and community-based approaches, we can reverse the tide of species extinction.”

His statement echoes the central theme of his numerous projects aimed at exploring, characterizing and conserving aquatic species, particularly endangered stingrays and sharks in Nigerian waters.

Dr. Oladipo’s work has attracted significant international recognition and support.

Between 2021 and 2025, his work has been supported and got award by various organizations including three from the Rufford Foundation, two from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), and a prestigious Early Career Grant from the National Geographic Society.

Notably, his 2023 project on “Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Stingrays Aiding Conservation Actions Against By-catches in Gulf of Guinea” earned a support from the Society for Conservation Biology, showcasing the scientific rigor and applied relevance of his research.

His postdoctoral work at Howard University in Washington DC and being a Visiting Researcher at the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, where he refined his molecular and bioinformatics research techniques further demonstrates his global academic engagement.

His publication record is equally impressive. As of 2025, Dr. Oladipo has co-authored more than 25 peer-reviewed journal articles. His most recent paper, “An updated ichthyofaunal checklist for the Nigerian Lagos Lagoon with notes on nomenclatural changes and the conservation status of species,” published in Zootaxa, underscores the pressing need for taxonomic clarity and updated conservation data for aquatic life in Nigeria. His 2024 study in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems provided groundbreaking DNA barcoding evidence on the genus Fontitrygon—a major step in species identification and protection strategies.

His work also extends beyond laboratories and field stations. Dr. Oladipo actively incorporates local communities in his conservation efforts. Through education campaigns and participatory research, especially along the Badagry and Epe coastal systems, as well as Jebba and Kainji riverine area, he ensures that local fishermen and youth are engaged in sustainable practices.

“Conservation cannot succeed without the people whose lives depend on these ecosystems,” he says. “Science must meet society halfway.”

Dr. Oladipo’s commitment to capacity building is evident in his participation in several high-profile regional workshops and conferences.

From delivering a course at the WAMBA-School in Côte d’Ivoire to presenting at the 2023 West Africa Marine Science Symposium in Accra, Ghana, he is cultivating a generation of young African scientists dedicated to marine conservation. He also participated in the Gulf of Guinea shark and ray workshop, where he shared field insights on fish market assessments and by-catch reduction strategies.

In addition to stingray and guitarfish studies, his research encompasses broader ecological concerns such as amphibian diversity, plankton communities, macro-benthic invertebrates, and the genetic structure of honeybees and freshwater fish.

Another hallmark of Dr. Oladipo’s work is his integration of molecular genetics into conservation biology. His use of DNA barcoding techniques has not only resolved long-standing taxonomic ambiguities but also informed species-level conservation interventions.

For example, his 2020 paper in Journal of Fish Biology helped redefine phylogenetic relationships within the genus Malapterurus, while another study unearthed cryptic diversity in commercially valuable freshwater species.

Despite these milestones, Dr. Oladipo remains deeply rooted in Nigeria’s academic and ecological challenges.

He continues to teach and mentor students at Kwara State University, supervising undergraduate projects and instilling scientific curiosity.

Several of his publications are co-authored with students—testament to his dedication to academic mentorship.

With a future that seems destined for even greater impact, Dr. Oladipo envisions expanding his research to influence policy at national and continental levels.

He notes, “We need policy frameworks that reflect scientific realities. Research must feed into conservation planning and environmental governance if we are to secure Africa’s biodiversity.”