The Federal College of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, Ibadan (FCAIB), recently played host to Professor Abayomi Oloruntoba, a distinguished Academia, Administrator and an international development Consultant, whose visit left a lasting impression on the College community.
The visit, filled with insight and inspiration, marked another milestone in FCAIB’s ongoing efforts to expand its reach, strengthen partnerships, and promote innovation in agricultural education.
Welcoming the distinguished guest, the Provost of the College, Professor Jonathan J. Atungwu, expressed appreciation for Professor Oloruntoba’s visit, noting that the College is broadening its academic landscape beyond traditional diploma programmes to include short certificate and vocational courses designed to empower diverse learners.
Prof. Atungwu in his view, asserted that FCAIB is a national asset than many other Institutions of its kind. He then remarked that the visit of Prof. Oloruntoba has further inspired his determination to attain his tenacious ten-years’ strategic plan for the College, which has already set off and would definitely outlive his tenure in the College.
“We’re building training hubs that go beyond regular academic programmes,” the Provost said. “Our goal is to offer practical certificate and vocational courses that allow retirees, entrepreneurs, and professionals to gain relevant agricultural skills and create value in their communities.”
In his remarks, Professor Oloruntoba commended the Provost’s visionary leadership and pledged his full support as a Consultant, think tank, and institutional development partner. He aligned himself with FCAIB’s mission of transforming agriculture through innovation, capacity building, and entrepreneurship.
“As a capacity builder for over four decades,” he noted, “I can confidently say that FCAIB is well-positioned and endowed to become a leading centre of agricultural excellence in Africa. I have seen Institutions around the world and this College established over a century ago has the foundation, structure, and leadership to stand out.”
Drawing from his wealth of experience in working with leading institutions such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, ARMTI, and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), FUNAAB and others,
Professor Oloruntoba emphasized the need for needs assessment, skill gap analysis, and fundable grants’ proposal writing, noting that such tools would help the College attract international collaborations and funding.
“Government alone cannot fund everything,” he said. “Teaching staff and students are to write compelling projects and grant proposals that will open new vistas for development and innovation.”
The renowned scholar praised FCAIB’s clean, well-organized, and serene environment, describing it as a reflection of discipline and visionary leadership. He expressed his readiness to work closely with the College to develop new programmes, support consultancy projects and strengthen the institutional building.
A seasoned academia and development expert, Professor Oloruntoba holds degrees from the University of Ibadan and the University of California, Berkeley. He has served in leading universities across Africa and is the Managing Director/CEO of Cedar Grove Nigeria Limited and Executive Secretary, of Okunland Farmers’ Development Initiative (OFDI–Nigeria), a rural-based NGO, promoting farmer empowerment and sustainable agricultural practices.
His visit to FCAIB reinforced the College’s commitment to advancing agricultural innovation and leadership development — a legacy that continues to shape Nigeria’s future in food security, sustainability, and agribusiness transformation.
Credit: Wilson Oyekemi Omowumi
