The Intimidating Profile Of Adeola Odedina, A Commissioner Nominee In Ogun

Born on 21st May, 1966, Dr. Samson Adeola Odedina attended Lisabi Grammar School, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State from 1979-1984; where he proceeded to Federal College of Agriculture, Akure from 1984-1986, Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan from 1987-1989. Current Mapoly Rector.

He holds a M.Sc. in Crop Science from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port-Harcourt and Ph.D. in Crop Production from the Federal University of Technology, Akure.

Dr. Odedina also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Agricultural Education from Wolverhampton Polytechnic (now Wolverhampton University) United Kingdom. While at Wolverhampton Polytechnic, Dr. Odedina studied at the Walsall Campus. His exposure to various teaching methods including how to deliver Agricultural skill sessions at Staffordshire College of Agriculture and Harper Adams College, while on teaching practice at Wolverhampton Polytechnic, has greatly enriched his career, and also enabled him pass the knowledge and skills to this generation of young farmers.

Dr. Odedina obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Vegetable Science and Technology from Beijing Vegetable Research Centre, China in 2000. In 2001, he obtained a Post Ph.D Certificate in Biotechnology from the Brazilian Corporation for Agricultural Research (EMBRAPA).

He had a brief stint as a village extension agent with the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP), in Ajebo village from 1986 to 1987, where he chose to reside in the village rather than a nearby Abeokuta town. While working there, he facilitated the formation of farmers’ cooperative groups with access to loans with huge profit made from a large rice farm. The farmers were also coordinated to participate in a yearly Agricultural show. All these were achieved during his one year work experience on completion of his National Diploma (ND) in General Agriculture.

He joined the services of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, on 27th September, 1990 and rose through the ranks to the position of Chief Lecturer in 2012.
Dr. Odedina is a Certified Master Trainer in Agricultural Value Chains from Bern University of Applied Science, Switzerland (June 2015); and a Consultant to diverse international development projects and institutions which include but not limited to: Cassava Adding Value for Africa Phase I (CAVA I) Project led by the Natural Resource Institute-University of Greenwich UK and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).

Dr. Odedina served as the National Productivity Adviser from 2008 to 2011, in a project that had 20,000 farmers and processors in Ondo and Ogun states helped out of poverty by improving the yield and income to more than a dollar a day. He is currently serving as a Consultant Agronomist to the Cassava Adding Value for Africa Phase II (CAVA II) Project to provide technical backstopping (stem multiplication and demonstration farms) for 200,000 small holder farmers to sell 2million tons of cassava roots to make processed products such as high quality cassava flour, chips for animal feed and cassava starch in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi.

From June to December 2010, he worked with USAID Markets to support 700 farmers in Ondo state and about 1000 farmers in Ekiti state with training and linkage to processors. These farmers are now successful out-growers, currently a driving force in the current cassava value chain activities.

In July 2012, Dr Odedina worked as Project Advisor to the Ekiti State FADAMA III Project, where 100 farmers were trained on recommended practices on yam storage techniques and Integrated pest management.

In July 2013, he served as Technical Specialist for the DFID UK funded Agriculture and Technology Transfer Programme in East Africa (DFID AgriTT). In September 2013, he worked as Lead Consultant to the Bill&Melinda Gates Foundation funded Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Sustainable Cassava Seed System Project for the Production of innovative manual, training facilitator’s guide and workbook for training of 1000 farmers; while, 50,000 bundles of Pro-Vitamin A Cassava planting materials was delivered to farmers in Edo, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi states and Abuja in April 2015.

Dr Odedina served as a Master Trainer (Agricultural Value Chains) for the Switzerland Government in the Capacity Building in Agricultural Extension Programme (CBAEN Project Phase I) from 2013-2015 and is currently serving as the Project Team Leader in the Capacity Building for Agricultural Education in Nigeria (CBAEN Project Phase II). The CBAEN Project is a Switzerland Government initiative aimed at curbing illegal migration of youths through value chain studies and active involvement in profitable agribusiness through exemplary value chain projects in schools and communities.

In March 2017, Dr. Odedina, leading his College in collaboration with Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin and six other Nigerian Institutions, got an approval from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for a curriculum for Value Chain courses for National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) Programmes in Agricultural Disciplines in Nigeria. The curriculum, an output of the CBAEN Project Phase II, is the first of its kind in the history of tertiary education in Nigeria.

Dr. Odedina is currently serving as a Consultant Agronomist to HarvestPlus/CIAT Biofortification (Vitamin A Cassava and Maize) Project. Over 100 NGOs and 1000 Extension Agents of Agricultural Development Projects in Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti, Akwa-Ibom, Benue and Imo states have been trained on agronomic standards for the multiplication of over 2000 hectares of Pro-Vitamin A cassava and 1000 hectares of Vitamin A Maize varieties. As a Biofortification Ambassador, he has led staff and students of Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, on farmers’ free dissemination Programmes and Advocacy for the involvement of youth in profitable agribusiness in Benue, Oyo, Kogi, Ondo, Ogun, Cross-River, Edo, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Lagos, Ekiti, Rivers, Enugu, Nasarawa States and Abuja.

Dr Odedina, with a host of staff from the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, are currently facilitating ongoing Innovations by the German Government supported Green Innovation Centres for Agriculture and Food Sector in Nigeria (GIZ Project), for smallholder farm businesses and up- and downstream agribusinesses in selected rural regions for improved income for 600,000 agricultural smallholders (30% women, 20% youth) in Maize, rice, cassava and Irish potato value chains.

He was a resource person for the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for the accreditation of National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) Programmes in Agricultural Technology and Crop Production of Lagos State Polytechnic from 9th to 13th April, 2012; and National Diploma (ND) Programme in Agricultural Technology of Ibadan Polytechnic, Oyo State from 23rd to 27th April, 2012.

He has in the past, successfully linked the College to several private sector players such as Elizade Nigeria Ltd., Honeywell Group, Matna Cassava Foods, Sunshine Cassava Factory, Ondo State, MicMakin Foods, Blopamed Nigeria Ltd, Allied Atlantic, Cress Farm, Lokoja, Matsol Farms, Ogun State, Thai Farms, Ota, Ogun State, etc., who have all responded to Government interest and investment in Agricultural transformation.

This Egba-born Agriculturist has participated in International Managerial and Technical Trainings, Workshops and Seminars in Africa, North America, Europe, Asia, South America and Australia, relating to Agricultural Technology transfer beneficial to farmers, students and other categories of youth Agriprenuers.

Until his appointment as Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure in January 2015, he was a Chief Lecturer in the Department of Crop Production and Coordinator of World Bank West Africa Productivity Project (WAAPP) and FAO/FGN/SSC/Regional Multi Service Extension Centre (REMSEC) at the College.

As the first alumnus to be appointed substantive Provost of the College since its inception in 1957, Dr Odedina, championed unprecedented achievements in the College; such include: 200% increase in students’ population, approval for four (4) new courses at National Diploma (ND) level and One (1) new course at Higher National Diploma (HND) Level and sustained beautification of the College community. Active involvement of students in profitable Agribusiness, with students keying into wealth creation and job opportunities created by huge demand for agro products and services by large scale industries. Cassava Stems (20,000 bundles/season); Cassava Tubers (30tons/month); Garri (10tons/month); Fufu (5tons/week); Vitamin A Maize (0.5ton/week), are all being sold by value chain students at the College gate.

Dr. Odedina oversaw 100% completion of Thirty (30) Federal Government capital projects from 2015 till 2018 (no abandoned projects); and a facelift of the College with diverse Federal Government and global donor-funded projects such as the International Training Centre and Guest House, Agroshop, Biofortification Restaurant and an Ultra-Modern Arable Crop Processing and Training Centre, Livestock Resource and Enterprise Centre, 1km Internal Access Road, among others.

Dr Odedina improved on the College’s relations with host communities and secondary schools with successful demonstration of viable Cassava, Aquaculture and Poultry Enterprises, leading to over 200% increase in tonnage of tubers, grains and livestock production in adopted villages, 10 new profitable Agricultural value chain job opportunities (cassava, poultry and aquaculture) introduced to adopted villages, which have been adopted and sustained by 10% of each of the farmers’ groups in three (3) communities, cut-edge farm technologies introduced and adopted leading to 40% increase in productivity of participating farmers, 200% increase in total food production, 40% of participating farmers linked with commercial uptakers. In adopted schools, enrolment and distinction grades for Agricultural Science increased by 40%, while Young Farmers Club formed have made money for the schools in viable Cassava, Poultry and Aquaculture ventures.

Dr Odedina is a recipient of over twenty five (25) awards and recognitions.

For his efforts in facilitating the engagement of youths (students and unemployed graduates) in profitable Agribusinesses through Agricultural Value Chain training and development (regular courses and exemplary value chain projects), Dr Odedina, in November 2017, received a letter of commendation from the Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development. Likewise in January 2018, Dr. Odedina received another letter of commendation from the Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development.

In September 2018, the outstanding achievements of the College (2015-2018), as a model institution in Agricultural Value Chain Training and Development, was showcased in the maiden edition of the FMARD DIGEST- a quarterly publication of the Office of the Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development; while in December 2018, the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement lauded the Federal College of Agriculture Akure, for its exemplary and outstanding performance in adherence to public procurement laws.

After four years of service (January 2015-December 2018) into a five-year non-renewable tenure at Federal College of Agriculture Akure, Dr. Samson Adeola Odedina bowed to pressure from his Home State, to take up an Appointment as the Rector of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta (MAPOLY) in July 4, 2018. Within six months, Dr. Odedina made meaningful impacts in the Institution, leading to several accolades and awards, among which included his Induction into the Hall of Fame of the Students Union Government and the renaming of a Bus Shed after him by the students of the Polytechnic. Dr. Odedina has over 60 publications in National and International Media.

He is happily married with children.