The Governing Council of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has approved the appointment of Prof. Olusola Kehinde as the 7th substantive Vice–Chancellor of the institution.
This appointment decision reached at the board’s special meeting on 7th of March was contained in a release issued on Wednesday in Abeokuta, signed by the institution’s Registrar and Secretary to the Governing Council, Dr Bola Adekola.
Adekola said that the appointment followed a keenly contested competition for the position, in which Kehinde emerged the best among the 14 candidates who applied.
“The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Alhaji Umar Ahmed, while announcing the appointment last night, congratulated Prof. Kehinde on his appointment.
“He charged him to work assiduously to uplift the standard of the institution in ensuring that FUNAAB continues to soar higher in the community of universities in the world,” he stated.
Responding to his appointment, Prof. Kehinde expressed deep appreciation to the Governing Council for finding him worthy, and for the trust reposed in him.
He promised to implement all the programmes highlighted in his vision document presented during the appointment process.
The new Vice–Chancellor promised to promote peace, quality and cut-edge research, while putting in all his energy to make FUNAAB a 21st Century university in a short time.
According to the statement, Kehinde, a native of Gbagura, in Abeokuta North Local Government Area, was born on December 22, 1964.
He attended Abeokuta Grammar School, Idi-Aba, in Abeokuta South LGA 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).
He was awarded a Bachelor and Master of Science Degree in Agricultural Biology as well as a Doctor of Philosophy (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 in 1994.
He rose through the ranks and is currently a Professor in the same department.
Administratively, he was the Dean, College of Plant Science and Crop Production between 2009 and 2011.
In 2021, he became the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development) of the institution, and until his appointment, he was the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution.
He is married to Prof. Iyabode Kehinde, with three children.