Prof. Michael Faborode

Michael O. Faborode is a Professor of Agricultural Engineering and an innovative leader in his field. He obtained his Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Agricultural Engineering and Master of Science (MSc) degrees at Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, known at the time as the University of Ife. In 1986, he was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Agricultural Engineering at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the United Kingdom. He immediately returned to join the Faculty at Ife, and he has been in academics ever since, though with rich professional engagement and industrial collaborations. Mike Faborode is an astute research engineer, who has distinguished himself as an academic, a dedicated teacher, researcher, and a professional engineer, who is practically engaged and is at ease with civic community engagements. Even with his responsibilities as Vice-Chancellor, he led a British DFID funded research project, AWARE, (Gender-related), and also supervised three Ph.D. research students. His research focuses on Biomaterial Properties, Bioprocess Engineering and Machine Design. He has also been involved in works on the deformation mechanics of biomaterials, thermo-physical properties, and conservation drying of tropical crops and products. An advocate of the Triple Helix Plus model, innovation and agricultural value chains, he is highly published in reputable indexed international journals (Google Scholar Citations –1243,h-index-19,i10-index–26, https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=nMX9iCIAAAAJ&hl=en), and widely traveled. He has been involved in Engineering regulation and standards in Nigeria, first as Vice President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering (COREN), 2005, as a Lead Engineering programme Accreditor since 2006, and lately as the Chair of the NUC curriculum standards committee for Nigerian universities. He is passionate about the competence and creativity of engineering graduates to dream, innovate and design Africa out of poverty and global derision. This he so clearly articulates through his quote, “Henceforth, our engineers must be digital, creative and innovative, imbued with critical thinking, analytical and modern engineering design skills, able to dream, model and design infrastructures, facilities and systems, create entrepreneurial businesses and start-up manufacturing ventures that will transform our economy from poverty to prosperity, and engineer the Nigeria/Africa we want, shikena!” Prof. Faborode was President, West African Society for Agricultural Engineering, 2002-2008, and a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering. Prof. Faborode is a member of the Nigerian Materials Society, Nigerian Biomathematics Society, and the Commonwealth Association for Development. He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers, as well as an Honorary Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB). His commitment to excellence in all these affiliations remains his driving hallmark. A gifted leader and passionate professional, Prof. Faborode was appointed as the 9th Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in July 2006, a position he held for 5 years. He thereafter served as the Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities from 2012 to 2017 Earlier, he was Dean, Faculty of Engineering (2002-2006) and Head, Department of Agricultural Engineering (1996-2002) at OAU. He Chaired the Visitation Panel to the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria, April 13-June 12, 2021 and currently serves as a member of the Strategy Advisory Committee of the National Universities Commission. He has been honoured with prestigious awards such as the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Merit Award in 1989, the National University Commission (NUC) Research and Innovation award, 2005, OAU 40th Anniversary Distinguished Alumni Award, and the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria Professional Excellence Award, 2009 Others are Joint Winner, RMRDC Maiden Process Design Award in 2008, the Global OAU Great Ife Special Merit Award, 2012 in Dallas, and he was a Resident Scholar at the Rockefeller Study Center, Bellagio, Italy in 2013 He is happily married to Dr Mrs. Helen Folake, (nee Ajayi) and blessed with four children; 2 development engineers, a medical doctor and a development and gender advocate. He shares an interesting personal story that has shaped his life: Growing up as a primary school head teacher’s son conferred some privileges, especially when you are truly your father’s son in mannerism, speech, walk, work etcetera. One day, I called a teacher, “Mr. Omowaare”, who thought it was my dad calling. He raced towards the direction of call, panting and answering, “I am coming sir, I am coming sir!” only to arrive to find me rather than his headteacher. He was livid to realize that I was the caller. Though filled with rage, he could not violate my “immunity” as the son of a headteacher. Perhaps this was one of the foundations of my engineering leadership proclivities – boldness and confidence.