Prof. Adesola Ajayi
Prof. ‘Sola Ajayi, currently the Vice Chancellor of First Technical University, Ibadan, is a notable agricultural scientist and higher education manager with over three decades of teaching, research, and higher education management experience.
He obtained B.Agric. (Plant Science) First Class Hons) and M.Phil. (Plant Science) from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and Dr. sc. agr. (Seed Science and Technology) from Christian Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany. He was a University Scholar (Obafemi Awolowo University scholarship for outstanding students, 1989); recipient of Ebony Award for being the student in the Faculty of Agriculture, (1990); Noble Club Award for being the student in the Department of Plant Science (1990). He was awarded the Faculty of Agriculture and Alli Idowu Prizes for being the student with the best overall performance in the final B.Agric. degree examinations and Professor Duncan’s First Prize for being the student with the best project work in the final B.Agric. (Plant Science) degree examinations (1991). He was the pioneer recipient of Dr. Sunday Aribisala Fellowship for the best M.Sc. Agricultural graduate from Nigerian Universities and Agricultural Institutions recommended for a PhD programme (1998). He was also awarded the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Scholarship for doctoral studies (1999).
He started his career as a Graduate Assistant at Obafemi Awolowo University in 1993 and rose through the ranks to become a Professor in 2010. He was a Research Fellow at the Institute of Crop and Grassland Science, Federal Agricultural Research Centre, Braunschweig Germany (1999-2003), Intermittent Visiting Scientist at Pioneer HiBred, Parndorf, Austria (2000-2001), Postdoctoral Scientist at the Plant Cell Biology Research Unit, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa (2003-2005) and a founding/Global Board Member of the Sustainable Futures Network. He has mentored several postdoctoral candidates and supervised more than 25 Master and doctoral students. Prof. Ajayi has more than 75 scientific publications to his credit.
As an expert and acknowledged research leader, he has vast research and industry experience on seed systems, agricultural innovations and enterprise development, research management, agricultural policy dialogue and mentorship of early career researchers (ECRs). His research focus has been on improving crop productivity through seed technologies, genetic resources conservation and enhancement, and the impact of climate change on food security.
Prof Ajayi had previously held several management positions in the University system: Chairman of the Governing Council of Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, Oyo State (July 2019-June 2022), Pioneer Deputy Vice-Chancellor (March 2018-Apr 2022) and Director of Academic Planning and Partnerships at the First Technical University (Jul 2017-Mar 2018), Chairman, Faculty of Agriculture Postgraduate Committee /Member, Board of Postgraduate College, OAU (Jan-Jun, 2017), Member, Strategic Planning Committee for the development of Obafemi Awolowo University’s Strategic Plan for 2016-2020 (2015); Member of the Appointments and Promotion Committee (2015-2017, 2007-2009); University Orator (2015); Member, University Research Committee (2014-2016); Chairman (2014-2016) and Deputy Chairman (2011-2014) of the University Security Committee; Director, University Teaching and Research Farm (2012-2016); and Acting Head, Department of Crop Production and Protection (2006-2008), among several others. In 2017 he received the Green Award from the National Association of Agricultural Students (NAAS, OAU Chapter) as the Most-liked Lecturer in the Department of Crop Production and Protection.
Prof Ajayi has participated in several national and continental agricultural policy dialogues and regularly facilitates national stakeholders’ meetings on seed sector development, improving crop productivity and increasing farmers’ income. He has consulted and managed several agricultural development projects for national, regional and international organizations like the Federal Ministries of Environment and of Agriculture; The African Seed Access Index (TASAI), West and Central African Council for Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Women, German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), Winrock International /United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Catholic Relief Services, and several international consulting firms.
Professor Ajayi speaks Yoruba, English and German and currently learning French.