International Journal of Scientific Research in Environmental Sciences (IJSRES), 1(6), pp. 115-121, 2013 Available online at http://www.ijsrpub.

com/ijsres ISSN: 2322-4983; 2013 IJSRPUB http://dx.doi.org/10.12983/ijsres-2013-p115-121

Full Length Research Paper Analyses of Heavy Metals in Water and Sediment of Bindare Stream, Chikaji Industrial Area Sabon Gari
Abolude David Sunday 1, Davies Onome Augustina*2, Barak Zebedee 1, Opabunmi Olatunbosun Olajide 1
2

Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Environment, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria * Correspondence Author: daviesonome@yahoo.com
Received 30 March 2013; Accepted 20 April 2013

Abstract. Some heavy metals in the water and sediment of Bindare Stream of Chikaji Industrial Area Zaria, in the northern part of Nigeria were analysed using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDX-RF) at the Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT) ABU Zaria. The following metals were detected: Aluminium (Al), Titanium (Ti), Iron (Fe), Chromium (Cr), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Cadmium (Cd) and Nickel (Ni). Their means (mg/L) and standard errors for the metals in the water is as follows: Al 7.97 Ti 6.24 Fe 5.31 Cr 4.19 ; Zn 5.93 Cu 2.07 Mn 4.77 Cd 0.43 Ni 3.15 while the metals (mg/L) that were detected in the sediment is as follows, Al 20.2 ; Ti13.19 Fe 11.75 Cr 8.701.90; Zn 6.770.17; Cu 10.621.06; Mn 6.540.41; Cd 3.920.55 and Ni 5.920.40. Metals like Al, Ti, Fe, Zn and Cu showed values above 2007 Nigerian Industrial Standards. Mn and Cd had no values for comparison. Key words: Analyses, Heavy Metals, Water, Sediment, Bindare Stream, Chikaji Area

1. INTRODUCTION Pollution typically refers to chemicals or other substances in concentrations greater than would occur under natural conditions. It is the contamination of Earths environment with materials that interfere with human health, the quality of life, or the natural functioning of ecosystems (living organisms and their physical surroundings). Water pollution is the introduction by man of substances into the aquatic environment resulting in such deleterious effects as harm to living resource, obstacle to marine activities, hazards to human health (FAO, 1990). Excess fertilizers in aquatic bodies can cause gas bubble disease in fish which may cause mortality (Skikoki and Kolo, 1993) as a result of rivers in the area that are heavily polluted with heavy metals, herbicides, insecticides and fertilizers. Pollutants are the causes of major water quality degradation around the world. Major water pollutants include microbes, nutrients, organic chemicals, oil, heavy metals and sediments. Heavy metals are important environmental pollutants. Metal contamination of the environment results both from natural sources and industrial activities. Metals in soil and water may enter the food cycle with an additional contribution from air (Gl, 2009). These activities have affected the soils and surface waters of industrial areas in southern Nigeria (Olajire et al., 2003).

Presence of metals are indication of pollution in any environment and the toxicity of these metals stems from the fact that they are biologically non-degradable and have the tendency to accumulate in water, sediment and fish (Gale et al., 2004). Additionally, their pathway to man have been established. Sediments are solid materials that settle at the bottom of water bodies. Trace elements and heavy metals introduced into aquatic environments with the activities of man come through: agriculture, industrialization and generated pollutants through mining and urbanization are ultimately absorbed by deposits and incorporated into the sediments (Olajire et al., 2003). Nigeria is naturally blessed with many rivers but only a few of these rivers have their sources in or flow through the northern parts of Nigeria. These few rivers in the northern Nigeria are over utilized for various activities such as farming, dumping of refuse and wastes (Abolude, 2007). Several toxic metals which are important to the environment and human health have been detected in aquatic media. These toxic metals include the non-essential metals and are of no importance to humans (Borgmann and Norwood, 2002). These toxic metals have been found to have accumulated mainly in the kidney and liver and high concentrations have also been found to lead to chronic kidney dysfunction. Steoppler (1997) has shown that when lead is ingested by man, it enters the blood stream and soon it begins to appear in the liver

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and kidney but ultimately over 90% of Pb absorbed end up in bones where it replaces calcium. Discharge of industrial effluents also constitute about 62% of total source of heavy metals such as lead, nickel, cadmium, chromium and manganese which are responsible not only for degrading the water quality of a river but also for killing a number of aquatic organisms (Abubakar and Garba, 2006). These metals have been found to be toxic after large accumulation in the body of flora and fauna and later passes on through the food chain of plant and fish to man. The presence of heavy metals in water body (i.e. river, stream) is becoming a threat to aquatic animals thereby making them unfit for human consumption. Heavy metal pollution is a reality in Africa but many nations have not yet conducted systematic studies to estimate the impact of the phenomenon; detailed surveys on accumulation of these pollutants in aquatic ecosystems and evaluations of the impact of heavy metals on the environment and public health is also lacking (Edorh, 2007). Sediments are important geochemical sinks which accumulate heavy metals rapidly and usually deplete them very slowly by leaching into ground water aquifers (Engnix et al., 2000). Soil pollution is the contamination of the earth by any range of pollutants that are derived from agricultural and mining practises. It is also the reduction of the earths land surface through inadequate use of the soil by poor agricultural practises, indiscriminate disposal of industrial and urban waste and over exploitation of minerals. The rate of increase in urban pollution is mainly organic; it is dominated by the enrichment pollutants (Stiru, 1981; Abel, 1996) which exponentially increases the neutral levels of nutrients for primary producers resulting in eutrophication and its prevailing deoxygenating of water. Industrial development in Chikachi environs (where Bindare Stream flows through) has resulted in heavy metal contamination of local waters through the effluents from the industries around the northwest of Zaria (Adakole, 2000). Pollution through human and animal wastes are major causes of deteriorating water quality and increased nutrient load in the coastal inland waterways such as eutrophicaton ( Abdullahi, 1995). Bindare Stream receives metal and organic wastes from surrounding industries, settlements and agricultural land. These metals are highly toxic such that they could cause damaging effects even at low concentrations (Tuberose, 2007). Physical effects such as in sediments which decreases light penetration, burg riverbed gravels used by spawning fish and clog gills, might cause the decomposition of organic matters which uses up oxygen otherwise available to aquatic organisms for example excess nutrient can cause

excessive growth of plants and algae which then decompose and reduce available oxygen for the aquatic life due to the presence of some hazardous substances may distort water quality, adds colour and also hinders economic activities (Asonye et al., 2007). Bindare Stream flows in a west-east direction along a gulley situated to the North-West of SabonGari and Chikaji Industrial Area of Zaria. Bindare Stream which is about 6km long took its source from Kwangila hills and empties into River Galma. The Stream has a catchment area of about 30.122km2. The gully also receives various industrial effluents. Municipal and industrial wastes are channelled into the same drain and subsequently into the stream irrespective of their qualities in Sabon-Gari (Zaria L.G.A) situated in Northern Guinea Savannah Zone. Chikaji Industrial Estate which is almost encompassed by the Bindare stream, has the following industries: Electricity meter Company of Nigeria (EMCOM) which produces electricity meter and circuit breakage, U.A.C Pharmaceuticals and personal product company, Kaduna chalk manufacturing company, John Holt Agricultural Industry, Harco Textile Company, U.A.C seed company and Pioneer Seed Company both of which produce different seed hybrids, Comrade bicycle company and several ware houses. Steady population growth and industrialization in the area has led to an increase in metal pollutants in the sediments, water column, fish residing in the water and the crop plants irrigated using the Bindare Stream. Bindare Stream serves two major roles: disposal of wastes generated from these industries and source of water for irrigation. Water quality and the surrounding soil are likely to be compromised by way of pollution with heavy metals like cadmium, mercury, lead, copper, zinc, etc. in the industrial wastes. The ecosystem contamination from these heavy metals may render plants and aquatic organisms such as fish with high concentration of such metals. The analysis of their contents could therefore provide an index (bio-indicator) of pollution in such water body which could in turn provide a baseline data for the level of radioactivity in such resident fish, water and sediment of this Stream. Results obtained could serve as prelude to the comprehensive analytical data that will be of immense importance to the Federal Protection Agency (FEPA) in their mandate to monitor pollution in major rivers in Nigeria. The objective of this research work is to determine the concentration of heavy metals in the water and sediments of Bindare Stream and to compare them with those of Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS, 2007) and possibly with the World Health Organization (WHO, 2007).

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2. MATERIALS AND METHODS 2.1. Selection of Sampling Stations Four points were selected and marked along Bindare stream. The four stations were with in an approximately 500-600 meters section and about 100150m distance between locations sampling was between September-December, 2009 these sampling stations were selected to reflect progression of pollution. 2.2. Treatment of Containers Two days before each sampling date, the materials polyvinyl chloride pipes (PVC) were previously decontaminated using the following procedures according Prendez and Carrasco, (2003). Washing with detergent; Rinsing with water to eliminate detergent; Rinsing with distilled water; Two successive 1 hour shaking treatment with nitric acid; Rinsing with distilled water; Cleaning with acetone (to dry off water) 2.3. Collection of Water Samples A previously treated two (2) litre plastic (polythene) bottles were used to collect the water samples (APHA, 1990) 1-2 metres away from the shore from about 0.20.5 metres below the surface of the water. The samples were collected close to the shore of the Bindare Stream from all stations between the hours of 7.00am to 10.00am. The samples were then transferred to the Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT) for further elemental analyses using the EDX-RF technique 2.4. Collection and Treatment of Sediment Samples The sediment samples were also collected from the four sampling stations of the Bindare Stream where the water samples were previously collected using labelled and pre-treated PVC tubes of 1 meter long, 25mm in diameter and 2mm thick. The sampler was inserted into the sediment under the water as deeply as possible turning it clockwise till it reached the harder substratum and could not proceed further and then turned anti clockwise until the PVC could be detached from the sediment (Abolude, 2007). The detached sediment in the PVC was allowed to settle for 2 minutes before the solution was carefully decanted off. The labelled PVC with the sediment was transported to the laboratory and kept in a deep freezer for 3-4 days (in a horizontal position) till the sediment became frozen (Bordas and bourg, 1998; Borgmann and Norwood, 2002).

The labelled frozen reservoir bed sediments were now extruded manually on a clear propylene container using a pre-treated wood. The sediments were left to dry before packaging. The freeze drying and air drying are satisfactory techniques, which enable preservation of sediment as representatives of the environment (Bordas and Bourg, 1988). The air dried sediments were ground to fine powders with a mortal and pestle. The mortal and pestle were cleansed overnight using water, detergent and normal HNO3, before rinsing with distilled water. This process was repeated between operations and a little quantities of acetone were added to the mortal for quick removal of water. The pounded materials were packaged in labelled new cellophane bags after drying for sequent analysis of heavy metals using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) technique at the Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT) ABU, Zaria. Heavy metal composition and concentration in water and sediment samples collected from the Bindare Stream were determined using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) technique at Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. 2. 5. Method of Elemental Analysis (Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence) 2.5.1. Analyses of Water Samples Mini Pal is a compact Energy dispersive X-Ray Spectrometer designed for the elemental analysis of a wide range of samples. The system is controlled by a personal computer running the Mini Pal analytical software. The Mini Pal 4 version in use is PW 4030 X-ray spectrometer, which is an energy dispersive microprocessor controlled analytical instrument designed for the detection and measurement of elements in a sample from sodium to uranium. The sample is loaded in the sample chamber of spectrometer and a voltage and a current (1MA maximum) is applied to produce the X-ray to excite the sample for a preset time (10 minutes). The spectrum from the sample is now analysed to determine the concentration of the elements in the sample. 2.5.2. Analyses of Sediment Samples 2.6. Statistical analysis of data samples Statistical analysis of data samples from different stations were compared based on the similarity of their chemical compositions and concentrations.

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Duncan packaged statistical programme was employed for this work using descriptive statistical and One-way ANOVA of the statistical package for the social science (SPSS, 1999) in analysis of the collected data. The measures of central tendencies used in the analysis were the mean and standard error (S.E). The significance of difference was set at 95% confidence limit (P=0.05).

3. RESULTS The results obtained for heavy metal concentration of water using Energy Dispersive X-ray Florescence (EDXRF) Technique is shown below in Table 1 with their means. The results obtained for heavy metal concentration of sediment using Energy Dispersive X-ray Florescence (EDXRF) Technique are shown below in Table 2 with their means.
Zn 5.51 6.40 6.42 5.37 0.20 5.93 0.28 Cu 1.94 1.99 2.12 2.23 0.02 2.07 0.07 4.77 0.40 0.43 0.05 Mn 3.74 4.92 5.68 4.72 Cd 0.30 0.40 0.45 0.55 Ni 2.43 3.03 3.84 3.28 3.00 3.15 0.30

Table 1: Heavy metals concentration of water from Bindare Stream, Chikaji industrial area Sabon GariZaria
Stations Station 1 Station 2 Station 3 Station 4 NIS Mean SE Al 7.43 8.35 8.89 7.21 0.20 7.79 0.20 Ti 5.72 5.98 6.89 6.40 0.05 6.24 0.26 Fe 4.75 5.98 5.42 5.08 1.00 5.31 0.26 Cr 3.83 3.94 4.88 4.10 0.30 4.19 0.24

Table 2: Heavy metals concentration of sediment from Bindare Stream, Chikaji industrial area Sabon GariZaria
Station 1 Station 2 Station 3 Station 4 NIS Al 18.75 20.73 22.44 20.14 0.20 Ti 12.32 12.88 13.74 13.82 0.05 Fe 8.22 12.35 13.44 12.98 1.00 Cr 5.26 9.94 10.41 9.55 0.30 Zn 6.44 6.84 7.22 6.58 0.20 Cu 8.59 8.99 12.25 12.65 0.02 Mn 5.64 6.28 7.58 6.65 Cd 2.52 3.60 4.89 4.68 Ni 5.53 5.04 6.32 6.78 3.00

Mean SE

20.52 0.76

13.19 0.36

11.75 1.20

8.89 1.19

6.77 0.11

10.62 1.06

6.54 0.41

3.92 0.55

5.92 0.40

From the Tables above the Al has a range of 7.218.89mg/L with a mean and standard error of 7.79 0.39, it showed an increase from station 1-3 and declined in station four and that is observed in the sediments. Ti in the water showed an increase in the concentration from station 1-3 and drops to 6.40mg/L in station 4 which shows variation in the sediments where there was a steady increase between station 1, 2, 3 and 4. The lowest concentration of Fe was recorded in station 1 and the highest was recorded in station 2 in the water but the sediment had lowest concentration in station 1 and highest was recorded in station 3. Cr had a range of 3.83-4.88mg/L in water whereas in sediment had a range of 5.26-10-41mg/L. Zn recorded 5.51mg/L in station 1 which is the lowest that was recorded but it dropped in station 4 similar record was observed in the sediment. Cu increases from 1.94-2.23mg/L and recorded a mean and standard error of 2.07 , similar trend was observed in the sediment too. Mn in the water had a recorded of 3.74 in station 1 and increases steadily to 5.68 in station 3 as station 4 recorded 4.72mg/L. Sediment too had 5.64mg/L in station 1 and 7.58mg/L in station 3 while station 4 recorded 6.65mg/L.

4. DISCUSSION From the above result the following metals were analysed both in the water and sediment in the study area, Aluminium, Titanium, Iron, Chromium, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Cadmium and Nickel. Disparity was observed among the metals observed. The concentration of these metals in water and the sediment of the Bindare stream in Chikaji Industrial area compared with values of Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS, 2007) showed that the concentration of these metals were above maximum allowable concentration of NIS except manganese and cadmium that had no values for comparison, this is in accordance with the work of Oniye et al. (2002) in their work in Zaria dam, Nigeria, they reported higher concentration of Iron in the rainy season. High concentrations can lead to poisoning; heavy metals are dangerous because they tend to bioaccumulation in living tissues. Aluminium showed a very high concentration in both water and sediment from the study stations, concentration of Fe, Ti, Zn and Cu showed gradual increased during the study period, and then increased

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thereby forming a plateau, this is in accordance with the work of Oniye et al. (2002) in their work in Zaria dam, Nigeria and they reported higher concentration of Iron in the rainy season. 5. CONCLUSION Results gotten from this study showed that there is no compatibility with NIS standards and therefore NIS must ensure that industrial activities and discharges into the Bindare stream conform to its sets limits so as to bequeath a clean and safe environment for Zaria and the nation at large. REFERENCES Abdullahi AR (1995). Environmental pollution in Malaysia trends and prospects trace-trends in analytical chemistry, 14: 191-198pp. Abel PD (1996).Water pollution Biology 2nd edition Taylor and Francis. I- Composer square, London ECYAZDE. 13-250pp. Abolude DS (2007). Water Quality And Metal concentrations In Sediment and Fish from Ahmadu Bello University Reservoir. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis Department of Biological Sciences, A.B.U. Zaria, Nigeria. 285.pp. Adakole JA (2000). The effects of diuretic, agricultural and industrial effluents on the water quality and biota of Bindare stream, Zaria, Nigeria, 252pp Asonye CC, Okolie NP, Iwuanyanwu UG (2007). Some physico-chemical characteristics and heavy metal profiles of Nigeria rivers, streams and water ways. African Journal of Biotechnology, 6(5): 617-625. Bordas F, Bourg ACM (1998). A critical evaluation of sample pre-treatment for storage and comtaminated sediment to be investigated for the potential mobility of their heavy metal load. Water, Air. and Soil Pollution, 103:137-149. Borgmann U, Norwood WP (2002). Metal bioavailability and toxicity through a sediment core. Environment pollution, 116: 159-168. Enguix AG, Tenanzo RJ, Fernadez JE, Naranga Dala Rosa FJ (2000). Assesment of metals in Sediments in a tributary of guadaloquiver River (Spain); Heavy metals partitioning and relation between the Water Sediments system. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 12: 11-19. Edorh P (2007). Heavy metal action. TWAS newsletter, volume 19: 2. Available online at <http://www.ictp.trieste.it/~twas/pdf. FAO; Food and Agricultural Organization (1990). African fisheries and the environment. Food

and agriculture organization of the United Nations. Regional office for Africa, Accra. RAFR/19/02. 26pp. Gale NL, Adams CD, Wixson BG, Loftin KA, Huang Y (2004). Lead, Zinc, Copper and Cadmium in fish and sediments from the River and Flat River Creek of Missours Old Lead Belt. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 26: 37-49pp. Garba S, Abubakar M (2006). Level of heavy metals in terrestrial crabs. Best Journal, 3(4):77-80. Giauque RD, Garrette RB, Goda LY (1979). Determination of trace elements in light element matrices by X-ray fluorescence with incoherent scattered radiation as an internal standard. Anal. Chem., 51: 512-516 Gl A, Yilmaz M, Isilak Z (2009). Acute Toxicity of Zinc Sulphate (ZnSO .H2O) (Poecilia reticulata P., 1859), G.U. J. Sci., 22(2): 59-65. Kump P (1996). QAES, Quantitative Analysis of Environmental Samples. Instructional Manual, Ljubligana. Leroux J, Mahmoud M (1966). X-ray Quantitative Analysis by an Emission Transmission Method. Analytical Chemistry, 38: 76-82. Markowiccz AA (1979). A method for correction for absorption matrix effects in samples of intrermediate thickness in EDXRF Analysis. Xray spectrum, 8: 14-18. NIS (Nigerian Industrial Standard) (2007). Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality. Pg 1-30. Olajire AA, Ayodele ET, Onyedirdan GO, Olugbemi EA (2003). Levels and specification of heavy metals in soils of industrial southern Nigerian. Environmental Monitoring Assessment, 85(2):135-155pp. Oniye SJ, Ega RAE, Ajanusi OJ, Agbede RIS (2002). Some aspects of Physico-chemical parameters of Zaria Dam, Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural and Environment, 3(2): 367-379. Prendez M, Carrasco MA (2003). Elemental composition of surface waters in the Antarctica Peninsula and Interactions with the environment. Enviromental Geochemistry and Health, 25: 346 363. Skikoki FD, Kolo RJ (1993). Perspective in water pollution and their implications for conservation of aquatic resources. In: Proceedings of the National conference on conservation of aquatic resources. Stoeppler M (1992). Techniques and Instrumentation in analytical chemistry,Vol. 12. Hazardous metals in the environments, Elsevier, London. In: Powell, R. E.(2001). Trace element in fish over subaqueous tailing in the Tropical West

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Pacific. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 125: 81104. Stiru J (1981).Manual of methods in marine environment research part 8. Ecological assessment of pollution effects. FAO Fish Tech. 70pp. Tang SM, Kump P, Yap CI, Bilal MG (1986). Calculation of relative fluorescence intensity for annular sources geometry by Monte Carlo Method. X-ray Spectrum., 15(2): 289-293.

Tuberose (2007). Information for transformation. Available online at <http://www.tuberose.com/Heavy_Metal_Toxic ity.html>. World Health Organization (WHO) (2007). Guide lines for drinking water quality.Health criteria and other supporting information, General.

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Dr. Abolude David Sunday is an Associate Professor. He obtained his first degree from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria in Zoology. Dr Abolude obtained his masters in Fisheries (Nutrition & Biotechnology) and his Doctorate degree in Fisheries from the same prestigious University in 2007 with specialization in environmental pollution (bias in heavy metal pollution), climatic change for food security and waste management. In pursuit of knowledge in 2010, Dr. Abolude was trained at the International Agricultural Centre, Galilae College, Israel where he obtained a Diploma in Aquaculture. Dr. Abolude, an astute lecturer and a profound researcher had published numerous referred articles in professional journals and international conference proceedings. He has also presented over 60 abstracts at seminars.

Dr. Davies, Onome Augustina is a visible Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor, assessed) in the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Environment, Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt, Nigeria. She has been a lecturer in that University for over seventeen years. Dr. Davies obtained her first degree from the premier University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria in Zoology in 1991. She later bagged her masters and doctorate degrees in Hydrobiology and Fisheries from the same University in 1994 and 2008 respectively. She is a Post-Doctorate 2009 fellow of the prestigious African Women in Agricultural Research & Development (AWARD) Fellowship. She won the highly competitive research attachment of AWARD and undertook a Post-Doc research and training on domestication of Black Tiger Shrimp, Penaeus monodon with Shrimp Genetic Improvement Centre, Phumriang, Chaiya, Surat Thani, Thailand in 2011. Also, she is 2010 fellow of Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP) for Competing Claims on Natural Resources Course. Dr. Davies has 60 refereed journal articles (local & international) and 4 conference proceedings papers. She has presented 13 conference papers and 3 posters at local and international conferences. Her life purpose goal is to fight poverty, hunger and unemployment in Nigeria and Africa by boosting fish production through sustainable aquaculture and capture fisheries. Dr. Daviess areas of specialization are Hydrobiology, Fisheries, Aquaculture, Biotechnology and Environmental Science. Presently, she is Faculty of Agriculture Representative at Senate of RSUST, Chairman of Departmental Postgraduate Board of her Department, Departmental Academic Adviser, Chairman of Aquaculture Centre in RSUST and Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Aquatic Sciences (published by Association for Aquatic Sciences of Nigeria).

Barak, Zebedee obtained his first degree from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria in Zoology in 2008 and later bagged a master degree in Fisheries from the same Institution in 2013. He has made several researches on heavy metals in sewage treatment ponds, aquatic pollution and industrial wastewater. He has special interest in Environmental Sciences. He has co-authored several local and international journals and has presented some of his research findings in conferences and seminars. He is presently a PhD candidate at the same Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria.

Opabunmi, Olatunbosun Olajide received his B.Sc (Aquaculture and Fisheries Management) and M.Sc (Fisheries) degrees from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU), Nigeria in 2010 and 2013 respectively. His B.Sc research title was comparative study of hematological indices of Clarias gariepinus in wild and culture system. Opabunmi worked on comparative study of aquatic micro-floral of Clarias gariepinus in wild and culture system. In addition, his research interest is on aquaculture and aquatic health. Opabunmi has published 10 reputable papers in international journals and proceedings. He is presently a PhD candidate at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

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