The Senate of the University of Ibadan has appointed Professor Ayoade Olayiwola Ogunkunle, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo, as an Emeritus Professor, effective from Monday, 24 February, 2025.
According to a release from Wale Adeoye, the Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo’s Media and Public Relations Officer, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olanrewaju Olaniyan while receiving the good news, expressed the joy of his management, staff, and students on the appointment.
He described the appointment as timely and the best thing happening to Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo, considering Professor Ogunkunle’s legendary contributions to the development of our university as the Pioneer Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council. “On behalf of the Senate, Staff and Students of our University, I pray to God Almighty to continually strengthen him as he enjoys his new status of Emeritus Professor,” submitted the University Chief Executive.
Emeritus Professor Ayoade Olayiwola Ogunkunle was born on 10 August, 1947. He attended the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and graduated with B.Sc. Agriculture in 1972. He joined the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) as Research Officer-in-Training in 1973. He obtained D.Phil. degree in Pedology and Soil Survey at Oxford University 1979. He was a recipient of the Western Nigeria Government and Federal Government Scholarships for the undergraduate and postgraduate degrees respectively Professor Ogunkunle joined the Department of Agronomy University of Ibadan as Lecturer Grade I in April 1983 and retired in August 2017.
He conducted researches on soil survey techniques, soil variability and land use/cropping pattern, quantitative and conventional techniques of land evaluation, application of numerical classification to soil correlation, quality control in soil survey, soil quality and land use. He has published 125 academic articles, single or coauthored, made up of 3 chapters in books, 92 journal, 14 proceedings and 16 technical reports. He was a recipient of research grants from University of Ibadan Senate, West African Rice Development Authority (WARDA), Belgian Govt., Dutch Govt. and British Royal Society. He was visiting Scholar to University of Benin (Nigeria), University of Ghana, Legon; University of Stirling, Scotland; Obafemi Awolowo University and Ekiti State University. He has been External Examiner/ Assessor of Professorial candidates in many Universities within and outside Nigeria. He successfully supervised 13 Ph. D. and several M.Sc. Projects.
Emeritus Professor Ogunkunle was Dean, Student Affairs (1999-2006) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration (2006-2008) in the University of Ibadan. Outside the University, Professor Ogunkunle has undertaken several consultancy services in Soil Survey and Land Evaluation for Crop Production, Irrigation Suitability Evaluation for private estates, farms, Federal and State Governments and International Agencies (FAO, EEC). He was Consultant to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Integrated Soil Management (1998) and Application of Framework for the Evaluation of Sustainable Land Management (FESLM), Consultant to the Federal Department of Agricultural Land Resources on Land Evaluation (1985-1990), Collaborator, RCMD, IITA (1983-2000), Member, AFRICALAND Team of the International Board for Soil Research and Management (IBSRAM), (1988-1996).
He was Chairman, Visitation Committee, Bowen University, Iwo (2011), Member, Governing Council, Bowen University (2012-2015), Ag. Chairman, Bowen University (2015-2016), Member, Alliance for a Green Revolution for Africa (AGRA) Committee for Ph.D. Soil Science Curriculum in West African Universities (2009); Member AGRA Committee on Climate Change and Small-holder Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa (2014); Member of West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) Committee for Strategic Document for a Road Map for Improving Soil Fertility in Nigeria (2014). He is a member of the International Soil Science Society, Soil Science Society of Nigeria, Agricultural Society of Nigeria and Remote Sensing Society of Nigeria. Emeritus Professor Ogunkunle is the Pioneer President and Chairman of Council, Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS) since 2018, Fellow (2009) and Life Member of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria (2017). He was appointed the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo by His Excellency, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde, FNSE on 12 October, 2023.
He is happily married to Professor Oluwatoyin Ogunkunle, and the marriage is blessed with two sons and grandchildren.
