Prof. Olusola Babatunde Kehinde Wednesday assumed office as the Acting Vice Chancellor, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).
The Senate of the University had on September 22, 2022, nominated Prof. Kehinde as the Acting Vice Chancellor, while the institution’s Governing Council ratified his nomination on October 7, 2022.
Kehinde, a Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics, assumed office as Acting Vice Chancellor following the expiration of the tenure of the sixth substantive Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Felix Kolawole Salako on Monday.
Until his emergence as Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kehinde was Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development).
Within his short stint as Deputy Vice-Chancellor(Development), Prof Kehinde is commended and revered for contributing immensely to the success of Prof. Salako’s administration.
He carved a remarkable niche for rejuvenating the ailing Industrial Park Unit of the University which he transformed into a more independent, productive and resourceful FUNAAB Integrated Venture as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of the Unit turned Venture, among other feats.
A consummate Scholar, Prof.Kehinde attended the 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 at the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta in March 1994 as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Technology, and rose through the ranks to become a Professor in 2007.
Prof. Kehinde has served the University in various capacities which included Dean, the College of Plant Science and Crop Production; Director, of the Institute for Human Resources and Development (INHURD); member, of FUNAAB Governing Council; Chairman and member of notable Committees in the University.
The new Acting Vice Chancellor is a recipient of many Fellowships and Grants, both personally and for the University.
They include the Graduate Fellowship Programme at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan; the Chinese Fellowship Programme at Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, many Grants for research studies and the establishment of Centre of Excellence in Agriculture.
Apart from FUNAAB, Prof. Kehinde has contributed to the development of other Universities, notably his remarkable impact at Lagos State University, Ojoo which led to his appointment as the Acting Pioneer Dean, of the School of Agriculture.
He was a visiting lecturer at Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic.
At the national level, the Acting Vice Chancellor served his father’s land as a 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 a member of the National Technical Working Group (Agriculture) of Vision 20:2020.
Prof. Kehinde has published more than fifty scientific articles in national and foreign journals.
Meanwhile, Prof. Kehinde has assured members of the University community and other stakeholders that he will do his “utmost best to provide quality and responsible leadership” during his six months tenure in office.
Prof. Kehinde, who gave the assurance in his acceptance speech, after he took over from Prof. Salako, promised to build on ” FUNAAB’s tradition of excellence bequeathed to the institution by its founding fathers”.
He said, “In doing this, however, I will be requiring the cooperation and support of staff, students and other stakeholders”.
The Acting Vice Chancellor noted with concern that “I’m not unaware of the enormity of the responsibilities of the Office, especially during a transition period”.
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