DAWN Commission
Tomilayo Adekanye
First female professor in any agricultural field in Nigeria and the first professor of agricultural economics in Africa. She also served as Commissioner for Trade and Investment and Commissioner for Agriculture in Oyo State.
Biography
Tomilayo Adekanye is from Osun State, Nigeria. She began her university teaching career in 1966 as a member of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Obafemi Awolowo University (then the University of Ife). In 1975, she moved to the University of Ibadan's Department of Agricultural Economics as Lecturer I, rising through the ranks to Senior Lecturer in 1977, Associate Professor (Reader), and full Professor in 1983.
Her promotion to full professor made her the first woman to hold that rank in any agricultural field in Nigeria and the first professor of agricultural economics in all of Africa.
Historical Context
Agricultural economics was a strategically important field in post-independence Nigeria, where policies on food production, trade, and rural development were central to national planning. The academic departments shaping those policies were led entirely by men. Adekanye's ascent to the rank of professor was a first not just for Nigeria but for the African continent.
What She Fought For
Adekanye worked at the intersection of agriculture and economics, focusing on the policies and systems that shape food production and trade. Her academic work contributed to a better understanding of agricultural markets and rural economies in Nigeria.
Beyond academia, she served in public office as Commissioner for Trade and Investment in Oyo State between 1990 and 1991, and also served as Commissioner for Agriculture. She brought her academic expertise directly into government policy.
Major Achievements
- First female professor in any agricultural field in Nigeria
- First professor of agricultural economics in Africa (1983)
- Academic career spanning Obafemi Awolowo University and the University of Ibadan
- Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Oyo State (1990 to 1991)
- Commissioner for Agriculture, Oyo State
Her Impact Today
Tomilayo Adekanye proved that a woman could lead in one of the most important academic disciplines for Nigerian development. Her combination of academic achievement and public service set a standard for scholars who want to make their knowledge count beyond the university.
Sources: The Nation Nigeria
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