FUNAAB: Olusola Babatunde Kehinde emerges 7th substantive Vice-Chancellor

Prof. Olusola Babatunde Kehinde has emerged as the 7th substantive Vice -Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).

The Governing Council of the University on Monday , March 7, 2023 declared him as the winner of the keenly contested position among other eminently qualified applicants both within and outside the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

Kehinde, a Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics is the current Acting Vice Chancellor of the University following the expiration of the tenure of the sixth substantive Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Felix Kolawole Salako. He had served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development before becoming the Acting Vice-Chancellor.

Prof.Kehinde attended University of Ibadan where he obtained a B.Sc Degree in Agricultural Biology, Second Class Honours, Upper Division in 1987; M.Sc in 1990 and a Ph.D in 1994.

He began his academic career in University of Agriculture, Abeokuta in March, 1994 as Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Technology, and rose through the ranks to become a Professor in 2007.

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Prof. Kehinde has served the University in various capacities which included Dean, College of Plant Science and Crop Production; Director, Institute for Human Resources and Development (INHURD); member, FUNAAB Governing Council; Chairman and member of notable Committees in the University.

The seventh substantive Vice Chancellor of the University is a recipient of many Fellowships and Grants, both personally and for the University.

They include, Graduate Fellowship Programme at International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan; Chinese Fellowship Programme at Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, many Grants for research studies and establishment of Centre of Excellence in Agriculture.

Prof. Kehinde has also contributed to the development of other Universities, notably is his remarkable impact at Lagos State University, Ojoo which led to his appointment as the Acting Pioneer Dean, School of Agriculture.

He was a visiting lecturer at the Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic.

At national level, the Vice Chancellor served his father’s land as member of the National Technical Working Group that reorganized the National Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development Bank into the Bank of Agriculture.

He also served as member of the National Technical Working Group (Agriculture) of the Vision 20:2020.

Prof. Kehinde has published more than fifty scientific articles in national and foreign journals.

Prof.Kehinde is bringing to the table an array of experience spanning through the developmental stages of the University.