Prof. Dare Akerele Appointed Director of FUNAAB COBFAS

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, has approved the appointment of Prof. Dare Akerele, a distinguished expert in Food and Welfare Economics from the Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management (AEFM), College of Agricultural Management and Rural Development (COLAMRUD), as the Director, Centre for Community Based Farming Scheme (COBFAS).

According to the Registrar, Dr. Titus Adeniyi, the appointment was effective from December 1, 2025 to November 30, 2028, and it was in recognition of Prof. Akerele’s proven capacity for academic leadership and his anticipated contributions to the continued development of the University.

Prof. Akerele has made remarkable contributions to research, teaching, and community engagement within the agricultural sector. An alumnus of FUNAAB and Best Graduating Student of the AEFM Department in 2004, Prof. Akerele has served in various strategic roles, including Deputy Director of the Institute for Human Resources Development (INHURD), where he significantly advanced academic training programmes. His tenure at INHURD featured key achievements such as the development of code of conduct for the students, the Institute’s strategic roadmap, the reform of the Pre-Degree syllabus, and the implementation of capacity-building initiatives for tutors.

Prof. Akerele has also served on several critical University committees, including Timetable and Examination Committee (TIMTEC) and Senate Coordinating Committee on Examination Results (SECOCER), in addition to contributing to the growth of COBFAS as an Academic staff.

As a Professor of Food and Welfare Economics, his research focuses on food systems improvement, household welfare, and policy interventions for sustainable agricultural development. He continues to provide mentorship and supervision to postgraduate students and maintains active engagements with international organisations, serving as a consultant to the FAO, World Bank, ILO, GIZ, among others.