FARA Technical Seminar Series: Transformation of the Africa Smallholder Farmer – An imperative for Agricultural Growth in Africa (Also recommendations for post COVID-19)

It will be presented by Prof. Oluwole Fatunbi. below is his brief profile.

Prof. Fatunbi Oluwole Abiodun is the Lead Specialist: Innovation Systems and Partnerships in FARA. He holds a doctorate degree in Agronomy with specialty in Farming Systems and Soil Fertility from University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He leads the strategic development and implementation of various research and development initiatives and the erstwhile Sub-Saharan Africa Challenge Program (SSA CP), credited with the development and proof of the Innovation Platform as a veritable instrument for achieving quick impact from research outcomes. Prior to joining FARA, ‘Wole worked at the Agricultural and Rural Development Research Institute (ARDRI), University of Fort Hare, South Africa, as a Researcher/ Lecturer; at the Total Development International Foundation (TODEV) as Program Manager, at the ARATI Environmental Limited as a Soil Fertility Management Expert; at the Savannah Sugar Company Limited, Adamawa, as a Field Agronomist, and at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan as a Visiting Research Fellow.

He has over 20 years professional work experience. He holds leadership positions in steering committees Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD), AU-SAFGRAD, ProEco Africa among others, where he contributes to the development of strategic pathways and policy issues. He also has vast experience in facilitating intercontinental partnerships for Africa agricultural research and development. He has facilitated many training sessions on agricultural related subject and has mentored many postgraduate scholars at MSc, MPhil, PhD levels and Post-doctoral levels. He is an adjunct Professor of Agricultural Innovation Systems at the University of Forth Hare, South Africa. Wole is well lettered with over 100 referred publications to his credit.