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Ademola Ladele

Ademola Ladele was a professor at the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ibadan.

Early life, academic career, and personal life

Professor Ademola Adekunte Ladele was born in Oyo on October 13, 1956, to the late Chief T. A. A. Ladele and late Mrs. S. A. Ladele (nee Layanju), both native of Okeho, in Kajola Local Government Area, Oyo State. He attended Oranyan Grammar School (1968-1972) and Olivet Baptist High School (1973-1975) both in Oyo, obtaining West African School Certificate and Higher School Certificate respectively. He later proceeded to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) Ile-Ife from 1976 1979 where he obtained B. Sc. Agriculture [with specialization in Agricultural Extension]. He had a stint of lecturing at Oyo State College of Education, Ila-Orangun (now Osun State College of Education), before he gained admission to the University of Ibadan where he obtained M.Sc. in Agricultural Extension in 1983 and Ph. D. Agricultural Extension in 1990. He benefitted from Cocoa Board Award at the Obafemi Awolowo University and the University of Ilorin Staff Development Award during his undergraduate and masters degree programmes respectively.

He got married to Late Mrs. Adeyinka Adetoun Ladele (nee Olowu) in 1990 and the marriage is blessed with wonderful children. Although as a man coming from a Baptist family he attended ECWA Church in Ilorin for several years.

Professor Ladele was appointed an Assistant Lecturer with his M.Sc. degree at the University of Ilorin in 1985 and lived with his family in Tanke, Ilorin until 2000 when he was divinely led to relocate to Ibadan. While in the University of Ilorin, he served his department, faculty, and the university in various capacities as he rose in ranks from Assistant Lecturer to Senior Lecturer. He was the first Editor-in-Chief and Chairman, editorial board of Agrosearch a journal of agriculture, food, and development. He was on prima facie for the position of Reader in University of Ilorin before he took a Senior Lecturer appointment in the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, at the University of Ibadan in July 2000. He was promoted to Reader in 2003 and to the rank of Professor in 2007.

In the year 2000, he became a member of RCCG, Beautiful Gate Parish when he moved to Ibadan with his family. As a result of his dedication, he rose quickly to be a minister under the leadership of Pastor Lawrence Oni and later on became Assistant Pastor of Reigning King Parish from 2003 to 2007. He was transferred to RCCG, Praise Assembly Parish in September 2007 and then to Hosanna Sanctuary as an Area Pastor in September 2015. He served as an active Sunday school teacher, minister, house fellowship coordinator, excellent men president and leader or member of one committee group or the other in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). Daddy Ladele as fondly called by members of his parish played a father role to many church members.

In the University of Ibadan, he was Chairman, Staff Seminar Committee, 2000- 2003; Editor, the Ibadan Extension Monograph series, 2000 -2003; and Postgraduate Programme Coordinator, 2002 -2003. He served as the acting Head of his Department (2004 – 2006) and a substantive Head of Department from 2010 to 2013. He led the UI Radio Project Committee as Chairman (2005 -2010) to establish Diamond FM Radio, the 1st community radio in Ibadan and environs. He likewise served as the first Dean of the newly created Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ibadan (2017- 2019).

Professor A.A Ladeles inaugural lecture titled Extension Everywhere, Extending Nowhere: The Cacophony of Agricultural Extension in Nigeria was delivered at the Trenchard Hall of the University of Ibadan on Thursday, 15th September 2016. It is on record that Professor A. A Ladele was the first Ph.D product of the Department to deliver an inaugural lecture and the third from the department in the University.

He successfully supervised and mentored several students out of which some have risen to the rank of professor. He was a member of several professional bodies such as the Association for International Agricultural Extension and Education [AIAEE], International Rural Sociology Association [IRSA] and Nigerian Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services [NIFAAS]. In addition, he was a life member of the Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria [AESON]; and Rural Sociological Association of Nigeria [RuSAN], where he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the journal of the Association (2006 to 2010) and President between 2012 and 2016. Professor Ladele was the Programme Director of Farm and Infrastructure Foundation [FIF], he also founded Pricewell Agrext Consults Limited; a private extension and farm management outfit promoting the transformation of smallholder farmers to agribusiness. He was a recipient of Senate Research Grants and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Research Grants. He consulted for NIGERIA-USAID/MARKETS II project under the auspices of Pricewell Agrext Consults. He also collaborated with other social researchers and consulted for several governments and international development agencies including IFDC and CFC. In his lifetime, he worked assiduously to advance the frontier of knowledge in the areas of private sector participation, commercialization of extension services and herbal solutions to COVID-19.

Professor Ladele was a visiting scholar on sabbatical leave to the University of Ghana, Legon and Olabisi Onabanjo University, College of Agricultural Sciences, Ayetoro, Ogun State and Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State. He also served as an external examiner to several institutions within and outside the country.

Professor Ademola Ladele though born into a Christian home got born again under the ministration of Bro. Gbile Akanni. He was ordained Assistant Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God in 2003. He also went on Holy pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 2012. He married Mrs. Ijeoma Stephanie Ladele (nee Okeugo) in 2015. He was a dutiful husband, doting father, lover of the extended family, community developer per excellence, a dedicated member of the University. He was an adept capacity builder and mentor to hundreds of youngsters. He is survived by his loving wife (Mrs Ijeoma Ladele), children (Olumide, Olabisi, Oladotun and Oreoluwa), grandchild (Albert), siblings, many friends, associates and mentees.