Stephen Onakuse

Biography

Dr Stephen Onakuse received his early education from Bendel State College of Agriculture, and from the University of Agriculture Abeokuta (Nigeria). Stephen graduated with an MSc in Environmental Biology from the University of Ibadan (Nigeria) and his PhD in Food Science and Technology from University College Cork (Ireland). Stephen continued his study with a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education from University College Cork. Stephen is a lecturer in the Department of Food Business & Development and a Research Fellow with the Centre for Sustainable Livelihoods, also at University College Cork. His research areas include the use of indigenous knowledge within communities as focal point of small-scale production interventions; building local capacities and shared knowledge that help sustain food security and livelihoods outcomes; socio-economic and community analysis; understanding the role of institutions in economic development and the processes of institutional change; environment and its impact on food security and the impact of corruption on development. Stephen has spent substantial periods in both sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. He is a member of the European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI) the Network of EU universities engaged in tropical and subtropical food and agriculture research (NATURA) and is a member of the Agris Mundus Consortium - Master of Science in Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Development Studies Association, UK & Ireland (DSA), and Irish Forum for Global Health (IFGH).

Research Interest

My research interests include the interactions of social, cultural, and religious aspects of agriculture, Environmental Biology and Development studies; explore how the impact of corruption changes the development environment with some developing nations, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Essentially, my research work looks at how societies and cultures impact the transfer and adoption of development tools and vice-versa through community-based approaches. These include Livelihoods Analysis, Agricultural development through innovative technology practices, and policy advice for Poverty Reduction Strategies, and sustainable livelihoods in Developing Countries.