‘AMSTERDAM’, PROF. KOLAWOLE ADEBAYO, JOINS ZULUM, EBOH, OTHERS AS ASN FELLOW

The distinguished academic, former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development) of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), and beloved alumnus, Prof. Kolawole Adebayo — widely celebrated by generations of students and colleagues as “Amsterdam”, has added another glittering feather to his cap by being formally inducted as a Fellow of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria (FASN).

The ASN Fellowship induction was conferred on Prof. Adebayo on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at the prestigious 60th Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting of the ASN, placing “Amsterdam” in an elite class of honorees that includes top political officeholders and prominent university administrators.

THE ELITE NOMINEES LIST

According to the official lists and categories of awards released for the 60th Annual Conference, Prof. Adebayo was named alongside a stellar array of national figures in the highly coveted Fellowship Award Nominees category.

Other nominees in this prestigious category included:

· Prof. Babagana U. Zulum, CON, Executive Governor of Borno State

· Dr. Onwujiariri Ebere Chukwu Bede, Provost/CEO of Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Owerri

· Professor Eric Chiedum Eboh, Vice-Chancellor, University of Delta, Agbor

· Professor Ibrahim Saminu Abdulrahman, Vice-Chancellor, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi (April 2014–April 2019)

His inclusion in this list highlights his towering status within Nigeria’s agricultural and academic landscape.

THE INDUCTION CEREMONY

The induction ceremony took place at the NAF Conference Centre and Suites on Jabi Ahmadu Bello Way, Kado, Abuja.

According to the commemorative plaque and official citation, Prof. Adebayo was formally inducted as a Fellow of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria (FASN).

This honour is in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the Agricultural Society of Nigeria and his immense impact on agricultural development in Nigeria.

A BROADER CELEBRATION OF AGRICULTURAL EXCELLENCE

The ASN’s 60th annual gathering was not just about the Fellowship awards.

The event also recognized outstanding leadership and contributions across various facets of the agricultural sector, including the Award of Excellence in Agriculture, which featured nominees such as Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana U. Zulum; Jigawa State Governor, Mal. Umar Namadi; Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago; Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah; and World Bank Senior Environmental Specialist, Chief Dr. Joy Agene.

Other categories included the Outstanding Leadership and Service to the Advancement of Agriculture nominee, Bello Bawa Bwari (Former DG/CEO, National Biosafety Management Agency), and the Posthumous Award of Excellence in Agriculture, honouring Engr. Kabir Ibrahim Faskari (Former President, All Farmers Association of Nigeria).

THE “AMSTERDAM” LEGACY

For those who know him, Prof. Adebayo’s latest national honour is a fitting culmination of a lifetime of excellence.

As previously reported, the name “Amsterdam” is one that has become permanently glued to the Professor, so much so that many generations of students may not immediately recall his given name.

His journey at FUNAAB was marked by brilliance; as a Direct Entry student, he shone like a galaxy of stars, famously owning a collection of shirts with the inscription ‘AMSTERDAM’.

In those days, he was the quintessential front-row student. Whenever a lecturer posed a challenging question to the class, the collective chorus from his classmates was always: “That guy Amsterdam will answer it.

“True to his reputation, Adebayo went on to win the Best All-round Graduating Student Award in 1994. He later served as the Pioneer National President of the FUNAAB Alumni Association before his triumphant appointment as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development).

WHY IT MATTERS

The induction as a Fellow of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria is not just a personal triumph for Prof. Adebayo; it is a testament to the quality of leadership and scholarly excellence nurtured by FUNAAB.

It reinforces the narrative of a man who moved from being an exceptional student, to a revered lecturer who delivered the 52nd Inaugural Lecture (titled “Mercenaries and merchants: the dialectics of rural development in Nigeria”), to a top university administrator, and now, a national Fellow in the agricultural sector, rubbing shoulders with the country’s most influential leaders.

ValidViewNetwork congratulates Prof. Kolawole Adebayo ‘Amsterdam’ on this well-deserved national honour and wishes him continued success in his service to the nation.

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