News

Joshua Ogunwole: Meet The FUOYE Professor Who Declared Adeleke Winner Of #OsunDecides2026

Published

1 month ago

August 16, 2026

When Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole took the microphone at the Osun State governorship election collation centre in Osogbo on Sunday morning, his task was not an academic one.

At about 7:24am, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) formally announced Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party as the winner of the August 15 governorship election.

Adeleke secured 511,067 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes.

After the results from the various local government areas had been presented and the necessary documentation completed, Ogunwole declared Adeleke elected for another four-year term.

“That Ademola Nurudeen-Jackson Adeleke, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner of the August 15 Governorship Election and returned elected,” he announced.

But beyond the declaration that brought the election to a close, who is the academic who presided over that crucial moment?

Born in Ibadan, rooted in Ogbomoso

Joshua Ogunwole was born on July 23, 1967, in Ibadan, Oyo State, although his roots are in Ogbomoso.

Known affectionately as “Coach” among students, colleagues and mentees, he began his early education at St Anne’s Primary Boarding School, Kakuri, Kaduna.

He later attended Tafawa Balewa Memorial College, Samaru-Zonkwa, before proceeding to the School of Basic Studies at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

His academic journey would eventually take him into the specialised field of soil science and, later, university administration.

From soil scientist to university administrator

Ogunwole studied Agriculture at Ahmadu Bello University, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree before proceeding to earn both his master’s and doctoral degrees in Soil Science.

His academic career has taken him through several institutions, including Ahmadu Bello University, Adamawa State University, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Bowen University and FUOYE.

Before his appointment as Vice-Chancellor of FUOYE, he served as the institution’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Strategic Partnerships, Research, Innovation and Linkages.

He previously served as Vice-Chancellor of Bowen University from 2018 to 2023.

Academic career beyond Nigeria

Ogunwole’s academic profile also extends beyond Nigeria.

He was a Fulbright Scholar at Pennsylvania State University in the United States between 2009 and 2010 and later became a TWAS Postdoctoral Fellow in India.

He also held an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship at the University of Hannover in Germany.

His academic and research engagements have taken him to several countries, including Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Italy, Ghana, Mali, Kenya and Tunisia.

His research interests span soil science, environmental management, carbon sequestration, sustainable agriculture and climate adaptation.

Research and professional footprints

Over the years, Joshua Ogunwole has published research works in Nigerian and international journals and supervised postgraduate students in his area of specialisation.

He is a Fellow of the African Scientific Institute and the Soil Science Society of Nigeria.

He is also associated with international professional organisations, including the Agronomy Society of America, Soil Science Society of America and the International Union of Soil Science.

His research and development activities have covered areas such as agriculture, soil and water conservation, irrigation and sustainable environmental management.

From the lecture hall to the collation centre

For Ogunwole, Sunday’s assignment represented a departure from his familiar academic environment.

As the Returning Officer for the Osun governorship election, he was entrusted with the responsibility of receiving and declaring the aggregate results from the state’s 30 local government areas.

The assignment placed him at the centre of one of the most closely watched political events in Osun, requiring him to announce the final outcome after the collation process had been completed.

With the declaration of Adeleke as winner, the professor returned to the role for which he is more widely known — university administration and academia — but his name will remain attached to the official announcement that brought the 2026 Osun governorship election to its conclusion.
(TRIBUNE)

News

Six Corps Members Receive N10m Grants To Boost Agribusiness

Published

1 day ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Six members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have received a total of N10 million in grants to expand their agribusiness ventures under the Farmers for the Future Programme.

The programme was organised on Monday by the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage young Nigerians to embrace agriculture and develop sustainable businesses.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, urged Corps members to maximise the opportunities provided by the service year by venturing into commodity marketing and other viable businesses.

Nafiu said agribusiness remained a viable avenue for young people to build sustainable enterprises, create employment and generate wealth.

He also stressed the importance of value addition to the success and sustainability of business ventures, while commending BATNF for placing Nigerian youths at the centre of its entrepreneurship initiatives through value-chain development, employment creation and its partnership with the NYSC.

“I charge you to spread the news around. We have seen the outcome, and it is a good idea,” he said.

The beneficiaries are Dominic Olufemi (FC/25C/1143), who received N3 million; Temitope Adewole (ED/26A/2251), N2 million; Abdulwaheed Bala (ED/25B/1402), N2 million; Olanike Mayungbe (OG/26B/1037), N1 million; Kingsley Udoeyen (KG/26A/1735), N1 million; and Lorember Lorsue (JG/25B/1742), N1 million.

Speaking on the selection process, the Acting Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), Mrs Winifred Shopeka, said the programme began with an online registration portal through which Corps Members engaged in agribusiness submitted their business plans.

She said nearly 3,000 Corps members applied and underwent a rigorous selection process that produced 20 finalists.

According to her, the finalists participated in a boot camp and a final pitching session, which produced the 10 best presenters before the six ultimate winners were selected.

Shopeka said the beneficiaries had also been mentored and attached to established market operators to assist them in marketing their products.

She added that Corps Members who did not make the final stage of the competition were also trained by BATNF.

The BATNF Team Lead, Mr Oludare Odusanya, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged Corps Members engaged in agribusiness to master the fundamentals and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.

“We are happy with our collaboration with the NYSC, and it will continue,” he said.

Odusanya explained that BATNF was an independent organisation established to contribute to poverty reduction in Nigeria through sustainable agricultural practices and other interventions.

He said the Farmers for the Future Programme was instituted in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage Corps Members to venture into agribusiness and become job creators.

He added that the beneficiaries would be attached to mentors who would guide them towards achieving success in their respective businesses.

According to him, the programme has, since its inception, continued to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of Corps Members.

News

CBN Reduces Interest Rate To 23%

Published

1 day ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday announced the reduction of the interest rate, also known as Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 23 percent.

Briefing the media in Abuja, the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said at the 307th MPC meeting held on September 22, 2026 agreed the resetting of the MPR and recaliberation of the monetary policy market.

According to Cardoso, the committe is satisfied with the disinflation progress, adding that members noted stable banking sector following successful recapitalisation.

Meanwhile, according to Nigerian Tribune, reports that that the MPC, at its 306th meeting in July 2026, disclosed its resolution to retain the interets at 26.5 percent.

According to the Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, “the Committee’s decision to maintain the current policy stance followed a thorough assessment of the balance of risks. Although headline inflation moderated marginally in June 2026, global uncertainties have heightened, due mainly to the renewed hostilities in the Middle East.

“In view of the evolving developments, maintaining a cautious monetary policy stance remains appropriate. In arriving at its decision, the Committee noted the recent resurgence of hostilities in the Middle East, with particular attention to its spillover effects on global energy prices and the potential pass-through to domestic inflation.”

News

NURTW: KWAM1 Settles Long-time Rift Between MC Oluomo, Tafa Sego

Published

1 day ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1, has brokered a peace deal between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) National President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, and the Lagos State Chairman of the union, Mustapha Adekunle, aka Tafa Sego.

The reconciliation took place at Ojusagbola in Ijebu, Ogun State, where several NURTW chieftains gathered for the meeting.

The development was announced on Tuesday on KWAM1’s digital media page on Instagram, alongside photographs from the meeting.

According to the post, the two union leaders have resolved their differences after years of strained relations.

“After years of an age-long rift, MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego have finally settled their differences. And from what we know now, this is final,” the post said.

The musician was said to have intervened as the Mayegun of Yorubaland, with the aim of bringing an end to the longstanding disagreement between the two NURTW figures.

“K1 acted in his role as the Mayegun of Yorubaland by seeking an end to the long-standing rift, once and for all,” it said.

The post also described the meeting as a significant step beyond previous public displays of reconciliation.

“This time, it was not just another handshake for the cameras. The two old friends and colleagues came together at Ojusagbola, with King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1) playing the peacemaker.”

Both MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego were reported to be pleased with the outcome of the intervention.

“Both parties are delighted about the new development,” the post said.

The two men had previously been allies and prominent figures within the Lagos NURTW before their relationship became strained amid disagreements linked to leadership of the union in the state.