Prof. Olusola Babatunde Kehinde Wednesday assumed office as the Acting Vice Chancellor, 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 to 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 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 in University of Agriculture, Abeokuta in March, 1994 as 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, College of Plant Science and Crop Production; Director, Institute for Human Resources and Development (INHURD); member, 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, Graduate Fellowship Programme at International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan; Chinese Fellowship Programme at Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, many Grants for research studies and establishment of Centre of Excellence in Agriculture.
