| cg.contributor.acknowledgements | I would like to convey my gratitude to my promoters, Prof. Wim Bert, Prof. Laura Cortada-Gonzalez, and Prof. Danny L. Coyne. Your unwavering guidance, feedback, patience, and support throughout my research have been instrumental in the completion of this work. I feel fortunate to have worked with such an extraordinary and dynamic researchers. Special thanks to Prof. Rony Swennen, Dr. Yao Kolombia, and Dr. Amah Delphine for
providing the necessary facilities, funding, technical support, and advice, as well as their encouragement and hospitality during my research, particularly while at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria. I am thankful to the University of Ghent (special research funds UGent: BOF-DOS BOF18/DOS/066), Belgium; the Breeding Better Bananas project implemented at IITA, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for funding my research and studies in Belgium and Nigeria.
I appreciate the time and effort dedicated by the examination committee members, Prof. Bart Braeckman, Prof. Lars Chatrou, Prof. Godelieve Gheysen, Prof. Richard Sikora, and Dr. Selamawit Araya Kidane for their invaluable suggestions and critiques. Your insightful comments have significantly improved the quality of my thesis. My profound appreciation to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria, for providing me with the opportunity to carry out my PhD investigation at this prestigious research center. I appreciate the entire Nematology Unit, Banana Unit, and Plant Pathology Unit of IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria. Thanks to the manager of Nematology Research Unit, Dr. Omowumi Adewuyi, the technical and field staff of Nematology Unit and Banana Unit, particularly Mr. Murphy Kayode, Mr. Tiri, Mr. Adeboye, Mr. Gbade, Mrs. Bamisaye
Bukola, Mr. Ademulegun Temitope, Mr. Trogun Finsbury, Kizito, Abigail, Beulah Ayeni, Camel Fassinou, and many others for their invaluable assistance, help, and support during my research.
I am grateful to Ms. Hilde Van Wynsberge for her assistance with administrative tasks during my research. Special thanks to Mrs. Inge Dehennin and Ms. Dora Scott from Ghent University for fostering a friendly and productive work environment at the Nematology Research Unit. I want to give a big shoutout to Mrs. Marjolein Couvreur, my lab manager and office mate, for being an amazing person throughout my doctoral research journey. She went above and beyond to help me, always asking if she could grab anything for me for lunch, and provided invaluable contributions to my research. She was always kind and generous, and her moral support helped me stay motivated during tough times.
Special thanks to Dr. Misghina Goitom Teklu from Wageningen University and Research, Netherlands. He was always available to answer my questions and provided additional support during my data analysis. I cannot thank him enough for his invaluable contributions to my research.
I am grateful to the International MSc in Agro- and Environmental Nematology and all the professors in the consortium for offering me the opportunity of the VLIR-UOS scholarship, as well as for the attention and the wonderful time I had during the Master’s programme in Nematology in Belgium, Germany, and Kenya. Special thanks to Prof. Wilfrida Decraemer, Prof. Godelieve Gheysen, Dr. Haukeland Solveig, Prof. Roland Perry, and Mrs. Inge Dehennin for their support during my Master’s study. I wish to express my sincere appreciation to my colleagues, Habtamu Kefelegn, Rolish Singh, Sihen Getachew, Hữu Tiền, Joseph Maosa, Gisele Herren, Prabowo Lestari, Cecilia Wanjau and Nurul Handayani, for their understanding, encouragement, and unwavering support.
My sincere appreciation and gratitude to Prof. Abiodun O. Claudius Cole for her invaluable advice and encouragement during my PhD investigation; her unwavering support and followup have been instrumental in my academic journey. I am also deeply grateful to Prof. Afiniki Bawa Zarafi and Prof. Plalekan Banwo for their unique approach and guidance during my undergraduate study, which inspired my interest in scientific investigation. I am also grateful to my wonderful friends and family at VNC, for making me feel at home in Ghent. I want to thank Kola Oyeneyin for creating the Adullam Network, which has provided me with valuable mentorship and a community of 300 young men across Nigeria and globally. I would like to express my appreciation to my wife, Olajide Abiola (Aweke), for her understanding, unwavering kindness and patience during tough moments. I dedicate this thesis
to my mother (Leah Folorunsho Adeosun) and express my sincere appreciation to her for her
care and love, as well as to my late father, Adeosun Simon, for his memory and inspiration. I am also grateful to my siblings (Seun Adeosun, Dupe Olajide, Omolola Olajide), nephews, nieces, cousins, and in-laws for their understanding and support. Finally, I am grateful to God for keeping me and providing me with the strength to persevere through challenges. To all who contributed to the success of this work, I express my heartfelt
appreciation. If I unintentionally left anyone out, please forgive me. Thank you all so much.
Olajide Emmanuel
24th March 2023 |
