Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
10 March 2022 | Story Olivia Kunguma | Photo Supplied
Prof Abiodun Ogundeji  new director of DiMTEC
The new Director of the UFS Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa, Prof Abiodun Oguneji.

The University of the Free State – Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (UFS-DiMTEC) welcomes the new permanent Director, Prof Abiodun Ogundeji.  

The Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa, fondly known as ‘DiMTEC’, was established in 2000. Since then, the centre has been headed by Prof Andries Jordaan, who has created an impressive and expansive disaster risk management footprint in Africa and beyond for more than 17 years. Prof Jordaan retired in 2017, leaving the centre with huge shoes to fill. After several listings of the vacant position, a substantial appointment was only made in 2022 in Prof Abiodun Ogundeji as the new Director of DiMTEC. He will assume his new post on 1 March.

Extensive experience

Prof Ogundeji is an astute and versatile applied economist and National Research Foundation (NRF)-rated researcher. He obtained his PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of the Free State. Before joining DiMTEC as Director, he was a guest lecturer presenting classes on the economic impact assessment of disasters and the management of floods. Prof Ogundeji was also Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, where he presented classes and supervised master’s, PhD, and postdoctoral candidates.  

“As a researcher, I work with international and local organisations, leading most of the projects as principal investigator.  One of my greatest collaborations was when I was a research fellow at the social protection department of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO); I believe the experience I gained from this association contributed to my career growth,” said Prof Ogundeji.

He has published 49 articles in peer-reviewed journals, delivered several conference presentations, supervised 14 master’s candidates, and promoted five PhD candidates in Agricultural Economics and Disaster Risk Management.
Prof Ogundeji's current research focuses on projects aimed at assisting farmers to adapt to extreme climate events, thereby ensuring food security. He recently completed a project as principal investigator, titled 'Development of scenarios for future agricultural water use in South Africa', sponsored by the Water Research Commission of South Africa. 

Prof Ogundeji has strong economic research and analytical skills, and a strong pedigree in econometrics, development and environmental economics, economic and socio-economic analysis. He has received awards for his research efforts at both national and international conferences.

“The faculty welcomes Prof Ogundeji as the new Director of DIMTEC. As an established, rated researcher, and with the vision that he presented during the interview, we are of the opinion that the centre is in excellent hands and that he will take it to new heights. As an agricultural economist, he replaces the previous director who was also an agricultural economist, filling the void created with the retirement of Prof Jordaan. He is familiar with the operational procedures of the centre, as he has been involved in the teaching of a module for several years. We therefore trust that the transition to a new management will be smooth,” said Prof Danie Vermeulen, Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

“During my term of office, I had the privilege of working with Prof Ogundeji from as early as the time when he completed his master’s until he became a lecturer in one of the centre’s modules. I have seen him grow, and to date, we have partnered in several research projects. I am really happy about his appointment; academically it will bring a good balance between quantitative and qualitative focus in research. Most scientists in DiMTEC are mainly focusing on qualitative work, and Prof Ogundeji is excellent in quantitative research. He will continue where I left off as an agricultural economist and will bring back a good balance between economic impacts and disaster risk assessments. He has been lecturing with me for more than 15 years in Disaster Risk Assessments, which is a big module in the centre. He is very experienced and will be an excellent asset to the centre. I have no doubt that his appointment will move the centre to greater heights,” said Prof Jordaan.

One of UFS-DiMTEC’s long-serving Associate Professors from the United Nations University in Bonn, Prof Joerg Szarzynski, said “The United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) congratulates Prof Ogundeji on his appointment as the new Director of DiMTEC! We are indeed looking forward to yet another decade of very fruitful collaboration between our institutes and all colleagues and friends involved.”

The long-term vision for disaster studies and research 

In response to his appointment and to shed more light on his vision for UFS-DiMTEC and the disaster management fraternity as a whole, Prof Ogundeji said, “It’s time for DiMTEC to take its position as the leading centre for disaster management and training in Africa, and as the gateway to Africa for other international organisations wanting to do research in Africa. I believe we have the personnel, passion, ability, and experience to serve the various stakeholders in South Africa and the international community.” 

News Archive

Shimlas have a bunch of fighters for a tough week, says Scholtz
2016-03-18


Scrumhalf Zee Mkhabela is one of the senior Shimla players who will have to help his team play three Varsity Cup matches within a week. Photo: Christaan Kotzé/SASPA

Luckily, he has a bunch of fighters in his rugby group to take on the week ahead, which is almost like a USSA rugby week with a lot of matches in a row.

This is what Hendro Scholtz, the Shimla coach, had to say about the upcoming Varsity Cup week, with his team playing three games within a week. His team will play against the University of Johannesburg (UJ) on 21 March 2016, after which they will face Maties in Cape Town on 24 March 2016, and then take on Pukke in the Mother City on 28 March 2016.

The schedule for the Varsity Cup series had to be adapted due to the recent unrest on campuses across South Africa.

According to Scholtz, the versatility of his players and the attitude of the University of the Free State (UFS) rugby team counts in their favour for the week that lies ahead. Several of the Shimla players can play in more than one position.

The Shimlas will travel with a group of 29 players, and will, after their match in the City of Gold, fly directly to Cape Town for their other two league matches.

“We will take six extra players (other than the 23-man squad) with us,” Scholtz said.

“One should select a group for this week that can fight, hang in there, and are able to play another match or two. It is like a USSA week where you need fighters.”

Prop Chase Morison, who was given a red card against the Central University of Technology in Johannesburg on 14 March 2016, wasn't sighted, and is available to play again. The Shimlas are still unbeaten after winning 10-9 against CUT in the FNB Stadium. Flyhalf Pieter-Steyn de Wet, who missed the game against CUT due to an injury, will be able to play against UJ.

The Kovsie Young Guns and Vishuis, the residence representative for the UFS, will also play a couple of matches in the coming week.

Fixtures:

Shimlas: 21 March: Shimlas v UJ (FNB Stadium); 24 March: Maties v Shimlas (Cape Town Stadium); 28 March: Puk v Shimlas (Cape Town Stadium).

Kovsie Young Guns: 19 March: Kovsie Young Guns v UJ (Rand Stadium); 24 March: Puk v Kovsie Young Guns (Rand Stadium).

Vishuis: 24 March: Vishuis tv Harlequins (NMMU, Rand Stadium); 26 March: Mopanie tv Vishuis (Tuks, (Wanderers Rugby Club); 28 March: Oppierif v Vishuis (UJ, FNB Stadium).

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept