The authority of Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo has expressed her deep appreciation to the Oyo State Governor and Visitor to the University, Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde on the constitution of the Governing Council for the 127-year teacher training institution.
According to a press release made available by the Special Assistant on Media Matters to the Vice Chancellor, Wale Adeoye, quoting the Institution’s Head of Registry and Secretary to Council, Mrs. Olubunmi Siju’ Asunmo, “I write on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Olanrewaju Olaniyan to announce to the University community and the general public that the Oyo State Governor and Visitor to the University, His Excellency, Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, FNSE has constituted the University Governing Council. The names of the appointed members are:
i. Professor Ayoade Olayiwola Ogunkunle – Chairman
ii.Professor Josiah Olusegun Ajiboye- Member
iii. Professor Abass Aderemi Adedibu – Member
iv. Chief Isaac Aderibigbe Koleoso- Member
v. Mrs. Funmilayo Orisadeyi- Member
According to the release, the Council Chairman, a renowned agriculturist, Professor Ayoade Olayiwola Ogunkunle was born on the August 10, 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.
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. 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 is happily married to Dr. Oluwatoyin Ogunkunle and the marriage is blessed with children and grandchildren.
While conveying the congratulations of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Olanrewaju Ademola Olaniyan to the new Council members, the release further called on all staff (teaching and non-teaching) and members of the University community to give the needed support to the new Council.
