Dean, COLPLANT, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde
Professor Olusola Babatunde Kehinde has been appointed the Director for the Institute of Human Resources Development (INHURD) of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
Professor Kehinde, who is presently the Dean, College of Plant Science and Crop Production, will officially assume duties on August 1, 2011 when his new appointment, which is for a period of two years, will take effect.
According to a release issued by the Acting Registrar, Mr. Adeleke Adeboye, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun, on behalf of the Appointments and Promotions Committee for Academic Staff (APCAS) approved the appointment in recognition of Professor Kehinde’s capability to provide academic and administrative leadership, as well as make contributions to the overall development of the University.
The new appointee will be taking over from Dr. Taofeek Salisu, the current Director of the Institute, whose tenure will lapse by the end of July.
A Professor of Plant Breeding, Olusola Babatunde Kehinde obtained all his academic degrees from the Premier University, University of Ibadan, where he distinguished himself as an exceptionally brilliant student, winning and carting home laurels and awards.
For instance, O. B. Kehinde won the highly revered Zard Prize for Best Graduating M.Sc Student in 1990. He also won the prestigious International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Graduate Research Fellowship Award as well as the Fellowship of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Beijing, China.
The appointee is a Researcher par excellence, with bias in the areas of agronomy, genetics, breeding and molecular study of horticultural crops.
Prof. Kehinde had served in several capacities including being the Chairman of TEFAMAC (2004), Director, GRECC (2008), Member University Governing Council (2009 to date) and Member INHURD Academic Board (2009 to date).
At the national level, Professor Kehinde was a member of the National Technical Working Group on Agriculture and Food Security, Nigeria Vision 20:2020 and also member, Study Group on Reorganization of NACRDB, among others.
Prof. Kehinde has attended Conferences and Workshops within and outside the country and he is a member of the Genetics Society of Nigeria, Agricultural Society of Nigeria and Horticultural Society of Nigeria.
Professor Olusola Babatunde Kehinde is happily married and blessed with children.