Growing up in Ilesha, Osun State, Nigeria, Emmanuel Fadipe appreciates the tremendous sacrifices made by the parents to provide not only a strong academic foundation but also a rich spiritual upbringing that taught Emmauel and the siblings how to raise and care for animals such as rabbits, goats, hens, and turkeys from a very young age. As the founder of the Animal Friends Academy, he attributes it “early life experiences and a deep personal faith in Jesus Christ,” telling the New Americans magazine that “this early exposure instilled in me empathy, responsibility, patience, and a profound love for all of God’s creatures.”

The inspiration for Animal Friends Academy comes from my early life experiences and a deep personal faith in Jesus Christ. I grew up in a town in Nigeria, Ilesha, Osun State where my parents made tremendous sacrifices to provide not only a strong academic foundation but also a rich spiritual upbringing. They taught me and my siblings how to raise and care for animals such as rabbits, goats, hens, and turkeys from a very young age.

This early exposure instilled in me empathy, responsibility, patience, and a profound love for all of God’s creatures. My academic journey further shaped this calling. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria. I went on to pursue a Master of Science in Environmental Protection and Agricultural Food Production at the University of Hohenheim, Germany, where I wrote a thesis on the “Prevalence of Coccidiosis in Poultry Farms in Nigeria and Its Impact on Food Security”. Currently, I am completing my PhD. at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Environmental Hygiene in Livestock, University of Hohenheim, Germany focusing on “Risk Factors that Contribute to the Prevalence and Persistence of Salmonella in Poultry Farms in Nigeria”.

Additionally, I am pursuing a second Master’s degree in Project Management, Graves School of Business and Management at Morgan State University in the United States. I am a specialist in animal health, zoonosis, food security, veterinary practices, biological sciences, and animal welfare, including that of horses and many other animals.

Emmanuel Fadipe Foundation

Alongside my academic work, I founded the Emmanuel Fadipe Foundation, which reflects my passion and love for humanity and my commitment to serving people and animals alike.

Animal Friends Academy

Animal Friends Academy is a free, 60-day educational curriculum designed as the best tool ever created to teach children and youths worldwide about animal welfare, veterinary science, environmental stewardship, leadership, and compassion.

The app is easy to navigate and offers interactive stories, advanced leadership tips, and a wealth of engaging activities. It includes four comprehensive modules, each culminating in a certificate of excellence awarded upon successful completion of the module exams. Even though the 60-day curriculum is considered by evaluators as the best educational compilation for these subjects, all these accolades mean nothing to me if it does not make the world a better place. I envision children and youths from all continents and every race using this app without discrimination. Whether in Africa, Asia, Europe, North or South America, Oceania, or anywhere else, I want to know that my work has helped build a more compassionate and knowledgeable generation. When the time comes for me to meet my Savior Jesus, I want to be at peace, knowing that I gave my very best to the creatures and people I encountered and that I left behind treasures of knowledge and love for those who come after me.

Children and Youths

Children and youths are the foundation of tomorrow’s world. They are naturally curious, compassionate, and capable of great leadership when nurtured correctly. By focusing on children and youths aged seven to seventeen, Animal Friends Academy aims to equip them early with critical knowledge about animal welfare, environmental conservation, health, and leadership. This is the time when values are shaped, and positive habits can have a lifelong impact. Many children and youths, especially in regions, often developmentally ignored and rural communities, lack access to quality education that integrates scientific knowledge with ethical and spiritual formation. This app fills that gap by providing an inclusive, accessible, and free platform that supports young learners wherever they live, encouraging them to be responsible caretakers of animals and the environment.

Accessibility

Offline functionality is a vital feature of the app because it allows children and youths in regions with limited or no internet connectivity to fully access the content. The app is designed to be easy to navigate with vibrant illustrations, interactive stories, and engaging leadership tips that encourage active learning. It offers four modules rich in scientific content, practical skills, creative activities, and reflections. Children and youths are expected to learn essential knowledge about animal biology and zoonotic diseases such as salmonella, hygiene practices, nutrition, ethical animal treatment, environmental protection and guide to building a career in these subject matters and beyond. Through quizzes and exams at the end of each module, they can earn certificates of excellence, which build motivation and a sense of achievement. Children and youths are also encouraged to develop leadership skills and empathy. The app helps them see themselves as agents of positive change in their homes, communities, and eventually the world. It inspires them to consider careers in veterinary medicine, agriculture, environmental science, and animal welfare. *

Uniqueness

Animal Friends Academy is designed to be culturally sensitive and globally relevant. It incorporates examples and lessons that reflect the realities of different regions around the world. For example, children and youths in agricultural communities might learn about livestock management and zoonotic disease prevention, while those in urban environments might focus more on sustainable consumption and animal welfare in domestic settings. In coastal regions, the app emphasizes water conservation and marine life protection. In forested or indigenous areas, it highlights biodiversity and habitat preservation. The content respects and includes all continents and all races, welcoming children and youths of every background with equal respect and without discrimination. This global inclusiveness ensures that every child and youth can relate to the lessons and feel empowered to act within their own community, whatever their circumstances.

Advocates

Animals depend on humans for their well-being. They cannot speak for themselves, and many face neglect, cruelty, or environmental threats. Children and youths who become advocates for animals learn empathy and responsibility that extends beyond animal welfare to human health and planetary sustainability. Animal advocacy supports food security by promoting healthy livestock management and preventing zoonotic diseases that can affect whole communities. It fosters compassion and ethical leadership, helping children and youths become better citizens who value life in all forms. By understanding the deep connections between animal health, environmental protection, and human wellbeing, children and youths who advocate for animals become leaders who can address some of the world’s most urgent challenges with wisdom and heart.

Benefits

I want to emphasize that Animal Friends Academy supports ten United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which guide its mission and curriculum. These include:

•             SDG 2 Zero Hunger by promoting sustainable animal farming and food security,

•             SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being through education on zoonotic diseases and hygiene, and

•             SDG 4 Quality Education by offering an inclusive and accessible 60-day program. It also advances

•             SDG 5 Gender Equality by empowering all children and youths equally,

•             SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production by teaching sustainability,

•             SDG 13 Climate Action by educating about agriculture and environmental stewardship,

•             SDG 14 Life Below Water through waste and water conservation teachings,

•             SDG 15 Life on Land by fostering biodiversity awareness,

•             SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions through leadership and ethical values, and

•             SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals by encouraging collaboration among communities, schools, and organizations.

This app is humbly presented as the best educational tool of its kind, designed with love, faith, and scientific rigor. However, despite its features and reach, all accolades mean nothing unless the world is truly transformed by it. My prayer and hope is that lives are changed, animals are cared for, and the planet is protected through the knowledge shared in this app. When my time comes to meet Jesus, I want to do so with a joyful heart, confident that I honored the investment my parents made in me, fulfilled the calling on my life, and contributed to raising generations of children and youths who will love God’s creations, our beautiful planet and equally make the world a better place.

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