Profile: Dr. Dele Ogunremi
by Dave Tulloch
Dr. Dele Ogunremi DVM, MVSc, Ph.D: Research Scientist – Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
In Canada, we purchase meats and vegetables with a very high level of confidence that we will not get sick when we consume these products. We are confident because we know that the cases of food contamination leading to illness within Canada are rare. And when any case is identified, it is instantly rectified with preventive and corrective measures. This is due to the work done by the scientists at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, who work vigilantly to identify and thwart potential dangers inherent in our food products.
Dr. Dele Ogunremi is one of those scientists. In fact, Dr. Ogunremi is a pre-eminent scientist at the CFIA. He was born in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He completed secondary school education in Abeokuta, attended the University of Ibadan where he obtained a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and a Master of Veterinary Science (MVSC). In 1988 Dr. Ogunremi left Nigeria to pursue Doctoral studies at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. “I arrived in Canada to pursue a Ph.D. study in veterinary microbiology and immunology on a Commonwealth post-secondary scholarship.” Like many foreign students, his intention was to fulfill his academic objectives and return home. “When I was planning to come to Canada to study, the goal was to finish up my Ph.D. in Canada, work for a few years and return to Nigeria.” Upon arriving in Saskatoon, he “felt lonely and cold at first”. However, his adjustment was eased by the efforts of a fellow student with whom he had prior contacts, a small group of Nigerian students, and a handful of Canadians who had previously visited or worked in Africa. But most importantly, it was his fervent Christian faith that propelled him to be “quickly integrated with Campus Crusade for Christ” and then “started worshipping at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, Saskatoon”.
Dr. Ogunremi successfully completed his Ph.D. in 1993. But he continued post-doctoral training at the University of Saskatchewan and completed this phase of his education in 1996. He secured employment as a Research Scientist at the Health of Animals Labs, at AgriFood Canada which transitioned in 1997 into the newly created CFIA. He has been with the CFIA for over twenty-five years and “currently supervises a lab carrying out Food Safety research at the Ottawa Laboratory, Fallowfield.”
Dr. Ogunremi’s work has been transformative in ensuring that our food products are safe to eat. To that effect, he “has developed research programs and projects in animal health, food safety, and genomics. He developed over 30 new diagnostic protocols, completed over 50 research projects, and achieved over 50 innovations.” Some of his most impactful work includes the development of “a DNA vaccine for avian influenza in chickens and has two patents granted in the United States and New Zealand, and one patent pending in Canada.” Dr. Ogunremi “has served on the Editorial Boards of the Canadian Journal of Microbiology and Scientific World Journal,” and he is an “Adjunct Professor in the Department of Food Science, University of Guelph, Canada.” More recently his research work has been focussing “on the application of whole-genome sequencing for the identification and characterization of foodborne microbial hazards.”
While away from the CFIA Laboratory Dr. Ogunremi turns his attention to helping others improve their social conditions. He is a Past-President of T.U.R.N Nigeria is a registered organization in Canada, where expatriates, as he says, “ordinary” Nigerians come together to change our lot.” T.U.R.N offers Nigerians and lovers of Nigeria the opportunity to join in offering solutions. “We believe we have a huge resource base globally and we can pull all these resources together to build a great Nigeria.” He actively participates in the leadership Team of the CODE mentorship Organization, an Ottawa based youth mentoring group whose mission is “to provide Godly mentors in the challenging lives of our youth who are entitled to achieve a safe, successful, and meaningful future”, and is himself a mentor to young black men. Dr. Ogunremi chairs the Board of the Redeemer Christian High School (RCHS) and previously served on the Board (Pastor’s Council) of Life Centre Church where he now serves as a Sunday worship service overseer.
Dr. Dele Ogunremi’s life’s journey is further proof that a single event can change the course of history. In his case, the impact on Canada is undeniable. His original plan to return to Nigeria was pleasantly thwarted when “midway to finishing my Ph.D., I met my fiancé Toju Ugborogho.” She was born in Canada to Nigerian parents, she grew up in Nigeria and had returned to study and live in Canada. The couple has two children Samuel and Doyin. Both graduated as Ontario Scholars and are currently attending University.
Dave Tulloch was born in Jamaica. He immigrated to Canada in 1970 to pursue post-secondary education. He earned a diploma in electronics engineering technology from Algonquin College, Bachelor of Admin and Bachelor of Commerce (Hon) from the University of Ottawa, and a Master of Business Administration from Concordia University. He has an extensive career in information technology and in IT consulting with Systemhouse, KPMG, and Oracle Corporation where he retired as a director. Dave taught IT and business courses at CEGEP (Hull) and tutored at the Wake Tech College in North Carolina. He wrote articles for the Ottawa Spectrum publication that focused on Ottawa’s Visible Minorities community and has written a book documenting the life stories of early Caribbean Immigrants to Ottawa, scheduled for publication later this year. He can be contacted via email: [email protected]