Dr. Debo Akande

Dr. Debo Akande, a Director in the Partnership for Development (P4D) Directorate at IITA, is a key figure in the agribusiness leadership landscape. Based at IITA’s headquarters in Nigeria, he Serves as the CEO of IITA Business Incubation Limited, leads the Mechanization Program, and spearheads the Zero Hunger programs. His leadership extends to his role as the Executive Adviser on Agribusiness and International Development Cooperation to a sub-national government of Oyo State, Nigeria, and as the Director-General of the State Agribusiness Development Agency. His previous role as the Head of Olusegun Obasanjo Station in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the third largest IITA Research for Development station in Africa, further underscores his leadership in the field.  He leads IITA Agribusiness management globally, with a specific focus on public policy, new business development, and private sector engagement in agribusiness for economic development.

With over 20 years of International Development Management experience, Dr. Debo Akande brings a wealth of expertise to his current role. His extensive experience is evident in his leadership of the agribusiness design, strategy, and implementation of a sub-national government (Oyo state) in Nigeria. He has successfully managed several transformational programs, including the African Development Bank (AFDB) Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) program, World Bank (WB)  Livestock Productivity and Resilient Support project, WB Nigeria Covid 19 Action and Recovery Economic Stimulus Program (NCARES), WB Rural Access and Mobility program (RAMP), the State Regional Agribusiness Industrial Hub program (RAIH), and the Youth Enterprise Agribusiness Program (YEAP), among others.

He has successfully piloted several global agricultural development projects, including the World Bank Integrated Project for Agricultural Growth (PICAGL) in the Great Lake of Africa and the Muti-Donor AgResults Global Initiative. He was a member of the Global Consortium Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Research Program on Agriculture for Health and Nutrition. He was one of the four Country Coordinators of the CGIAR Flagship on Food Systems and Healthier Diets in the World and the second in Africa. A CGIAR Scientific Committee delegate to the United Nations Food System summit engagement process.  He has led several Agribusiness management and consultancy work for and with a diverse international institution, including the World Bank, African Development Bank, Deloitte LLP USA, USAID, UK DFID, Canada Finance, Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation, and Australia Aid.

He has a Doctoral Degree in Business Administration from the University of Hertfordshire, the United Kingdom, with a specialty in Agribusiness Strategy Development and Management. He also holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in international development studies from the United Kingdom and Diplomas in International Environmental Law from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, Switzerland, and Agribusiness Management from Pan African University, Nigeria. He was trained in Climate Change Management at Oxford University, United Kingdom, Food Security Policy at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Bank, and Negotiation Conflict Analysis and Management from the United States Institute of Peace, United States, among others. He is a chartered manager and a fellow of the Chartered Managers Institute in the United Kingdom.

He has authored over 20 agricultural articles in reputable journals.