Sowing Seeds Of Excellence: A Tribute To Professor Veronica Obatolu 

By Adeniyi Amusat

A leader is like a thermostat ,setting the temperature for success and creating an environment where others and even the organisation can thrive. If such a leader is as good as he or she is passionate about the betterment and goodness of the organization as well as the growth of everyone, there will be unforgettable stories of development and prosperity trailing the exit of such a leader.

This is perhaps the current scenario at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, under Obafemi Awolowo University, where the first female Executive Director, Prof. Veronica Obalolu is gloriously bowing out after a momentous and result-oriented six-year tenure (2019-2025).

The Executive Director whose journey in the Institute has been a tapestry of achievements, woven with dedication, devotion, and discipline is leaving behind a sterling record of accountability, probity, and forthrightness as she serves with her head, heart, and hands.

It hardly needs to be said that this highly respected research scientist of Human Nutrition is an audacious leader imbued with sterling qualities including hard work, relentlessness and integrity, hence, performing daring and difficult duties almost effortlessly.

She dislikes laziness and lateness. This is probably where she has issues with some staff members who perceive her leadership style as “too much”. The question is can anyone reach an omelette without breaking an egg? In other words, can any meaningful achievement be recorded without a kind of hard drive, discipline and dedication?

Undoubtedly, Prof. Obatolu will always occupy a prime position in the list of those who have profoundly shaped the Institute, going by her record of achievements and accomplishments. Her resourcefulness in navigating the complex intersection of academic research, administration, and human management is breathtaking as she is bold and blunt.

Her commitment to the greater good, rather than personal gain is historic, as she does that with vigour and rigour, thus, making the research environment rich and rewarding.

Her impact is profound, leaving a lasting impression in the Institute.

From her unwavering integrity, to her boundless compassion, Prof. Obatolu exemplifies what it means to lead with honour and grace as she can easily pass for a combination of brawn, beauty and brain whose decisiveness and firmness have created an indelible imprint on the administrative landscape.

Clearly, she is a positive minded person who always ensure that action follows on the steps of the vision of ultimate excellence.
Consequently, the Institute is better for it.

Massive research breakthroughs were recorded for example in the following areas :
*Repair of moribund feedmill
*Varietal release of Maize,Cowpea and Kenaf
*Land and Water Management Technologies
*Training of Farmers
* Development of Improved meat type chicken.

All these breakthroughs were promptly disseminated to farmers and other stakeholders within and outside Southwest agricultural zone.

Massive infrastructural development was also part of the hallmarks of Obatolu’s adminstration.

Building of office complex at the headquarters which is named ‘Agricultural value Addition and Entrepreneurship center, new gigantic office complex recently allocated to Professors in the Institute, and another building complex at Kabba, in Kogi state are eloquent testaments to her leadership sagacity.

Beyond the infrastructural development, both teaching and non-teaching staff experience massive promotions in their careers. The Institute now has 29 Professors as opposed to what was obtained in the past.

This is in addition to upgrading of library automation system and capacity building of library personnel.

It is to the credit of Prof. Obatolu that the farm broadcast programme of the Institute called “Agbe Asejere” (Profitable Farming) is currently being run in five radio stations across South west. This is unprecedented among the Committee of Research Institutes in Nigeria.

IAR&T is the only Institute that runs her radio program in five different stations. This is a great service to smallholder farmers in Southwest , Nigeria especially now that most of the Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) in the zone are in comatose.

What about empowerment of farmers? Prof. Obatolu ensures that farmers are regularly supported with the provisions of necessary input and are regularly trained and retrained towards enhanced productivity.

Again, during the COVID 19 pandemic, the institute disributed relief materials to States across South west.
The six States in the Southwest received seeds and all other essential agricultural inputs which were distributed to farmers as form of empowerment and for them to go back to the farm.

During her tenure, the Institute was well recognized within and outside the country for the efforts in tackling the food insecurity which has been the bane of the nation.

Apart from the awards and recognitions to the Institute as a corporate body, Prof. Obatolu also won some laurels for Integrity, dedication to duty and for being one of the few leaders with corruption-free record.
Few of the awards/laurels won are, Exemplary Leadership Award, Transparency Africa Award, Life Member Award of Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), etc.

During Prof. Obatolu’s tenure as Executive Director in IAR&T, enabling environment was created and 9 Professors of different disciplines presented Inaugural Lectures at the home campus, Ile-Ife, which is unprecedented in the history of the Institute.

It is also not gainsaying that during the tenure of Prof. Obatolu, grants were flowing into the Institute both from external and internal (TETFund) sources. This is the hallmark of having a dynamic and visionary leader at the helm of affair.

The ever neat and serene environment of the Institute is another reflection of Professor Obatolu’s unique tenure at IAR&T. The culture of doing it right which was introduced by the outgoing Executive Director (Prof. Obatolu) on assumption of office as the CEO of the Institute in 2019 changed the Institute’s trajectory and will for a long time reflect on the Institute’s positive image and development.

The list of her achievements is almost endless and those who may think that the achievements are mere hype are encouraged to visit the Institute’s headquarter at Moor Plantation, Ibadan and other outstations. Prof Obatolu’s midas touch did not only reflect in the institute . As a wife, mother and proud grandmother , Veronica was a wellspring of wisdom, warmth and boundless love.

Her legacy was not only confined to her family, it poured into her community ,her church and every life she encountered.
The IAR&T Family will surely miss her thoroughness, leadership style, vision and dedication and the whole Moor Plantation community wish her well in her future endeavors.

Dr Adeniyi Amusat Is the Head Of Public Relations Unit, IAR&T/OAU, Ibadan.