A new Voice Chancellor has been appointed to superintend over the affairs if the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB. He is Professor Olusola Babatunde Kehinde.
The Governing Council of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB, at its special meeting of 7th March, 2023, approved the appointment of Professor Kehinde as the seventh substantial Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB.
A release signed by the Registrar and Secretary to the FUNAAB Governing Council, Dr. ‘Bola Adekola, and made available to the media by the Head, Directorate of Public Relations, Mr. Kola Adepoju, his emergence followed a keenly contested competition for the position.
Professor Kehinde emerges the best among the 14 candidates who applied for the position.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Alhaji Umar Ahmed, CNA, while announcing the appointment last night, congratulated Professor Kehinde on his appointment and charged him to work assiduously to uplift the standard of the institution in ensuring that FUNAAB continue to soar higher in the community of universities in the world over.
Responding to his emergence, after receiving his appointment letter from the Chairman, Professor Kehinde expressed deep appreciation to the Governing Council for finding him worthy of this appointment and the trust reposed in him.
The New Vice Chancellor promised to implement all the programmes highlighted in his vision document presented during the screening process.
He promised to promote peace, quality and cut-edge researches, while putting in all his energies to make FUNAAB a 21st Century university within a short time.
Professor Olusola Babatunde Kehinde, a native of Gbagura, Abeokuta North Local Government Area, was born on 22nd December, 1964. He attended Abeokuta Grammar School, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta South Local Government Area from 1976 to 1981, for his secondary education and later proceeded to Ogun State Polytechnic, now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ojere, where he obtained his Higher School Certificate, HSC, after completion of his secondary education. He was awarded a Bachelor and Master of Science Degree in Agricultural Biology, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Breeding and Genetics, from University of Ibadan, Oyo State in 1987, 1990 and 1994 respectively.
Professor Kehinde became an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Plant Breeding and Science Technology, University of Agriculture, now Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB in 1994.
He rose through the ranks and is currently a Professor in the same Department since 1st October, 2007 till date.
Administratively, Professor Kehinde was the Dean, College of Plant Science and Crop Production, between 2009 and 2011. In 2021, he became FUNAAB Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development.
Until his current appointment, he was the acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution.
Professor Kehinde is associated with several academic and professional bodies which include: Fellow, Institute of Health and Safety, Canada; Fellow, Association of Applied Information Management Professionals, FAIMP; Fellow, Genetics Society of Nigeria; member, African Crop Science Society; and member, Horticultural Society of Nigeria.
The new FUNAAB VC is married to Professor Iyabode Adekemi Kehinde and the union is blessed with three children.a
