His modest achievements, rare managerial skills and flair for service to humanity are some of the qualities that stand him out of his peers. Professor Felix Kolawole Salako combines academic prowess and tenacious spirit for high integrity in the discharge of his duties.
Professor Felix Kolawole SALAKO, the Sixth Substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria (FSSSN), was born in Lagos on April 18, 1961, and hails from Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo state. He started his robust education at Igbobi College, Lagos where he obtained the African School Certificate in 1976.
The young Kolawole thereafter proceeded to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, between 1978 and 1983, to study Agriculture (Soil Science Option). He emerged the best graduating student of his Department in 1983, with a B.agric. (Soil Science), Second Class Upper Division. After his National Youth Service at the Department of Soil Science, Ahmadu Bello University ( ABU), Zaria, he returned to Nsukka and graduated with an M. Sc. Degree (Soil Physics/Soil Conservation) in 1986.
Professor Salako began his foray into the world of academic success when he was given an appointment in 1987 as a Consulting Soil Scientist at TCI Associates, Ibadan. He later proceeded to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan in 1989 to manage, first, an IITA/UNITed Nations University project located inside Okomu Oil Palm Company, Okomu
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Forest Reserve, Edo State as a Resident Research Associate. He eventually worked on different research projects in IIITA, Ibadan for eleven years (1989-2000).
Professor Salako joined the services of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta ( FUNAAB), in 2000 as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Soil Science and Land Management ( formerly Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Mechanization). Apart from teaching courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, he has supervised more than 50 undergraduate projects and more than 30 postgraduate theses. He was an Acting Head of Department from February 2001 to December 2006. He became a Professor of Soil Physics In 2006 and he has to his credit, more than 90 publications in learned journals, book chapters, conference proceedings and technical reports.
He was re-appointed Head of the Department, again, between January and March 2008 after a year of sabbatical leave at the University of Venice, Venice, Italy. In March 2008, he was appointed the Director, Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC), a position he held till March 2011. He became the Pioneer Director, Community-based Farming Scheme (COBFAS), from March 2011 to September 2011. He moved on to become the Deputy Vice-chancellor (Development) in September 2011 and spent two-terms of two years each till December 2015.
Professor Salako was listed in Marquis Who-isWho in Science and Engineering, Eighth Edition, 2005-2006 for Outstanding Achievements. He has won many research- support grants, which included the Third World Academy of Sciences ( TWAS), and the Training and Research in Italian Laboratories ( TRIL) of the Abdus Salaam International Centre for Theoretical Physics ( ICTP), Italy. He participated actively from 2016 to 2020 in the African Cassava Agronomy Initiative ( ACAI as the southwest coordinator under the auspices of IITA, Ibadan. He is also a member of several Professional Societies and was once an Associate Editor for the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, Iowa, USA.
Professor Salako focused his research over the years on: ( 1) Rainfall erosivity and Soil Conservation, (2) Soil Water Flux and Evapotranspiration, and (3) Soil Water Management using Agronomic Practices and Improved Fallow Systems. He has been involved in Rural Community Development projects all over Nigeria. some of these activities led to his being honoured with chieftain titles in two communities in Ogun state; Ishaga Orile and Iwoye Ketu. He is also very active as a community leader in private residential areas.
Professor Salako’s professional powers have been felt in many universities across Nigeria and even beyond. His academic tenacity came to bear when he was appointed vice-chancellor, federal university of Agriculture, Abeokuta, in 2017. Professor Salako brought with him, his rich experience as an international administrator and researcher.
Little wonder that he left no one in doubt of his ability to move the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta forward, based on his track records and pedigree which speak volume.
Three years in the saddle, Professor Salako has laid a solid foundation of achievements for Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
Professor Salako is a Fellow, Soil Science Society of Nigeria. He is a Deacon in Livingspring Chapel, Abeokuta. He reads intensively and extensively. For leisure, he listens to different genres of music. He is married to Deaconess Mabel Obehi Salako and they are blessed with children and grandchildren.
