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Professor Olumuyiwa Fowowe Ashaolu (a Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics), was born
on the 20th of December, 1960 at Ilesha, Osun State, Nigeria. He attended Ilesha Grammar School, Ilesha,
Osun State, Nigeria, between 1972 and 1976 for his secondary education and between 1978 and 1980 in
the same school, for his Higher School Certificate/GCE ‘A’ Level where he got the overall best student
prize in Biology in 1979. After his Higher School Certificate education, he worked briefly with the National
Bank of Nigeria, University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) Ile-Ife campus branch between 1980
and 1981. He then proceeded to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, for his Bachelor of
Agriculture Degree (Hons.) in Agricultural Economics in 1981, and graduated with Second Class Upper
Division in 1985; he did his Master of Science (M.Sc.) Degree programme (Agricultural Economics) from
1987 to 1989 and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) Degree programme (Agricultural Economics) from 1997 to
2002, in the same Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Professor Olumuyiwa Ashaolu got the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Postgraduate Fellowship
Awards in 1987, which was a scholarship to pursue his Master of Science Degree programme from 1987
to 1989. He was employed into the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja, Nigeria,
as a Planning Officer I in 1990 and rose to the position of a Principal Administrative Officer in 1999 before
joining the services of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, as Lecturer II in the
Department of Agricultural Economics & Farm Management, in November 2003. He rose progressively to
become a Professor in October, 2017.
As a former staff of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for about fourteen years, and
as an Agricultural Economist, Professor Ashaolu had the opportunity of interacting with the small-scale
farmers who earn their living from small farm units. Most of these farmers were seen as operating in a
farm-family agricultural system which uses what it produces and produces only what it uses. In other
words, the farmers only think of their farming operations largely in terms of providing for family needs
through their own production. Even though the country was, and still is, endowed with abundant natural
resources and substantial agricultural potential, many small-scale farmers do not take on profitable
investments in agriculture.
Immediately he was employed as a University academic and researcher, all these and other issues facing
farmers, enhanced his passion for research and further helped to define his area of research interest. The
primary focus of some of his research initiatives was directed at understanding the resource productivity,
income and resource-use efficiency in agricultural production and processing. Most of his impactful
research studies are targeted at increasing the income of farmers, thereby reducing hunger and poverty,
and improving the sustainability of rural livelihoods in the face of increasing social, economic and physical
shocks and stresses. Against this background, his academic specialty and interests through theories and
empirical research would help in meeting the various challenges facing the small-scale farmers, and with
the believe that the agrarian transformation can begin with them by examining how agricultural and
natural resources can be allocated under alternative economic situations.
Outcomes of his research studies so far have been communicated in seventy-eight (78) publications,
including fifty-three (53) journal articles (international and local), three (3) articles in book, twenty-one
(21) in refereed conference proceedings, and one (1) technical report.
Professor Ashaolu teaches many courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels especially in the
areas of Resource Management & Economics, Agricultural Production Economics, Farm Management and
Accounting, Agricultural Marketing & Cooperatives, Agribusiness Management, Agricultural Development
and Policy Analysis, Project Appraisal & Evaluation, to mention a few. He has successfully supervised over
200 research students, both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Professor Ashaolu is a member of professional associations including the Nigerian Association of
Agricultural Economics (NAAE), Agricultural Society of Nigeria, Farm Management Association of Nigeria
(FAMAN), and, Nigerian Society of Economists. He has attended several trainings, induction courses and
workshops since he joined the University. As regards special assignments/community service in the
University, Professor Ashaolu has served diligently in several committees within the University such as
AE&FM Department Sub-Committee on Postgraduate Matters (January 2006 to 2013), Secretary,
Consortium for Agricultural, Rural and Environmental Management (CAREM) in the Department of
AE&FM, Research Grant & Administration Committee – REGAC (2008 to 2013), Tractor Committee (2013
to 2014), Committee on Aged Care Programmes for Rural Farmers (ACP-RF) 2010, Environmental
Management Committee (EMC), 2013 to 2015, Land and Mineral Resources Use Review Committee
(LMRURC), 2013 to 2016, Representative of COLAMRUD at College of Management Sciences (COLMAS)
College Board, May 2015, Postgraduate School Representative for Masters and PhD Degrees Dissertation
& Thesis Oral Defense, respectively, in Agricultural Economics & Farm Management (2015 to date). Others
include Students Disciplinary Committee, 2016/2017 Academic Session, Representative of COLAMRUD in
Academic Planning Committee for 2017-2018 academic session, LOC Chairman, Transportation and
Logistics Committee in the 2017 Annual National Conference of the Nigerian Association of Agricultural
Economists (NAAE) and 2019 Farm Management Association of Nigeria, (FAMAN) Conference.
He is also the Coordinator, Environmental and Resource Economics (EREC) Unit, Department of AE&FM,
FUNAAB, April, 2019 to date; member, Board of Studies, COLAMRUD, FUNAAB, October 2017 to date;
member of Senate of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, October 2017
to date; Staff Adviser to 100Level to 500Level Students of the Department of AEFM, 2004 to date;
Undergraduate Coordinator (2003 to 2007); Postgraduate Coordinator, including MBA programme (2003
to 2007); Undergraduate Coordinator (500L & FNG), Department of AE&FM (Aug 25, 2008 to July 31,
2009); Undergraduate Seminar Coordinator, Department of AE&FM (2007 and 2009 to date); and
Postgraduate Coordinator (MBA), Department of AE&FM (Oct. 2009 to date); External Examiner for
Postgraduate Students’ Oral Examinations in other Universities, 2014 to date; Osun State Consultant on
Fadama III Performance Evaluation Study, May-June 2019; Reviewer to some Journals such as Journal of
Applied Agricultural Research of Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Ife Journal of Agriculture
of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, ASSET Journal, Series C. (now Journal of Humanities,
Social Sciences and Creative Arts – JHSSCA) of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria;
Journal of Human Ecology, South City, India; and International Journal of Social Economics, United
Kingdom.
Professor Olumuyiwa Ashaolu was a recipient of research grants from the Research and Development
Center (RESDEC) now Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research
(IFSERAR), FUNAAB, for conducting a study on “Production Elasticity and Returns-to-Scale on Ofada Rice
Farms in Ogun State, Nigeria”. 2006. He was also a co-researcher in the diagnostic survey of farming
activities in Lagos State, organized by RESDEC (now IFSERAR), FUNAAB, 2009; Co-Researcher, Agricultural
Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) Project – Competitive Agricultural Research Scheme (CARGS). A study
on “Economic Evaluation and Impact Assessment of Food Crops Production, Processing and Storage
Technologies in Nigeria”, 2011 to date.
Professor Ashaolu’s diligent and selfless service to the University earned him two University
commendations. He received Commendation letter from the Head of Department, AE&FM, FUNAAB (23rd
July, 2008) and Letter of Appreciation from the Vice-Chancellor, FUNAAB, on 13th June, 2019 for his
excellent performance in ensuring clearance of results backlog in AE&FM Department, and also for the
commitment and dynamism exhibited as the Coordinator of Master of Business Administration
(Agribusiness) Programme in the University for over fifteen years and ensuring that the Department and
University had full NUC accreditation for the programme for 2006, 2014 and 2018.
· Ph.D., Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria 1997 – 2003
· M.Sc., Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria 1987- 1989
· B.Sc., University of Ife (now O.A.U), Ile-Ife, Nigeria 1981- 1985
Research completed but not yet published
(1) Agbonlahor, M.U., Ashaolu, O.F., and Ayinde, I.A (2009): “An Assessment of Technical Efficiencies in Vegetable Fadama Farms in Ogun State, Nigeria”. Paper under review.
(2) Ashaolu, O.F (2008): “Production Elasticity and Resource Use Efficiency on “Ofada” Rice Farms in Ogun State, Nigeria”. RESDEC-sponsored study. Paper under review.
(3) Agbonlahor, M.U., Ashaolu, O.F., and A.J. Ogunleye (2009): “Productivity Dispersion and Sources of Inefficiency in Small-holder Timber Mills in Nigeria”. Paper under review.
(4) Shittu, A.M., Phillip B.B. and O.F. Ashaolu, (2010). Agricultural labour productivity growth
and catching up among countries in West African sub-region, 1970-2004. Paper under
review.
(5) Phillip, B.B., Shittu, A.M., and O.F. Ashaolu, (2011) Pattern and Determinants of Non-
Alcoholic Beverage Demand among Urban Households in Abeokuta and Ibadan, Nigeria.
Paper under review.
Research in Progress
(1) Estimating the Economic Value of Zoological Gardens in South-West Nigeria.
(2) Comparative Analysis of Beneficiaries and Non-Beneficiaries of Credit Among Women
Agribusiness Entrepreneurs in Egbeda Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria.
(3) Production Efficiency of Quail Egg (Coturnix japonica) Production Among Quail Farmers in
Abeokuta Metropolis, Ogun State Nigeria.
(4) Non-timber forest products and households’ food security in Oyo State, Nigeria.
(5) Value chain analysis and adoption of improved farm technologies among small-holder rice
farmers in Lagos State, Nigeria.
(6) Determinants of the adoption of improved ofada rice varieties among small-holder farmers in
Ogun State, Nigeria.
(a) Ilesha Grammar School, Ilesha, Nigeria: Overall Best Prize in HSC in Biology, 1979.
(b) Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife: Postgraduate Fellowship Grants, 1987-1988.
(c) Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife: Postgraduate Fellowship Grants, 1988-1989.
(d) Research and Development Center (RESDEC) now Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR), FUNAAB, research grant for conducting a study on “Production Elasticity and Returns-to-Scale on Ofada Rice Farms in Ogun State, Nigeria”. 2006.
(e) Team member of the diagnostic survey of farming activities in Lagos State, organized by RESDEC (now IFSERAR), FUNAAB, 2009.
(f) Co-Researcher, ETF Research Grant for a study titled “Enhancing cowpea production, processing and utilization in humid ecology of Nigeria for food security attainment”, (2016 to date).
(g) Co-Researcher in IBR of TETFUND 2017 on a study titled ‘Agronomic and economic performance of NERICA rice varieties at different seedling ages to alternate wet and dry cycles at the vegetative growth in a derived savanna’, (2017 to date).
(h) Co-Researcher, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) Project – Competitive Agricultural Research Scheme (CARGS). A study on “Economic Evaluation and Impact Assessment of Food Crops Production, Processing and Storage Technologies in Nigeria”, 2011 to date.
(i) External Examiner for Postgraduate Students’ Oral Examinations in Other Universities, 2014 to date.
(j) Osun State Consultant, Fadama III Performance Evaluation Study, May-June 2019.
(k) Reviewer to the following Journals:
(1) Journal of Applied Agricultural Research of Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN).
(2) Ife Journal of Agriculture of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
(3) ASSET Journal, Series C. (now Journal of Humanities, Social Sciences and Creative Arts – JHSSCA) of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
(4) Journal of Human Ecology, South City, India.
(5) International Journal of Social Economics, United Kingdom
Programme Leader, Agricultural Economic and Environmental Policy (CEADESE)
July 31, 2023 to July 30, 2026
· Nigerian Association of Agricultural Economists
· Agricultural Society of Nigeria
· Farm Management Association of Nigeria
· Nigerian Society of Economists
(d) Papers in Refereed Conference Proceedings
(1) Fakoya, E.O.; Oloruntoba, A.; Ashaolu, O.F. and S.A. Adewuyi (2006): “Women Farmers and Household Food Security in Odeda Local Govt. Area of Ogun State, Nigeria”. in Economic Reforms and Management of Nigerian Agriculture; in Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Conference of Federal University of Technology, School of Agriculture & Agricultural Technology, Akure. Onibi, G.E., Agele, S.O., Adekunle, V.A.J. and Akinbulumo, M.O. (Eds). Pp 210-214.
(2) Ayinde, I.A., Ashaolu, O.F., Adewuyi, S.A. and M.U Agbonlahor (2005). “Analysis of Production of Fufu (Wet Paste) in Ibadan North Local Govt Area of Oyo State,Nigeria”. In Agricultural Research for Development in Nigeria; in Proceedings of the 19th Annual Conference of the Farm Management Assoc. of Nigeria, Ogisi O.D., Okuneye, P.O. and Oyaide, W.J.. (Eds) Pp 180-185.
(3) Ashaolu, O.F. (1999). “Human Capital Development as a Strategy to Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria” in Poverty Alleviation and Food Security in Nigeria; in Proceedings of the 1998 Annual Conference of Nigerian Association of Agricultural Economists (NAAE), held at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, 15th-18th April. Edited by Fabiyi, Y.L. and E.O. Idowu, Chp. 48, pp280-284.
*(4) Agbonlahor, M.U., Ashaolu, O.F., Adewuyi, S.A, and Ayinde, I.A. (2006). “Improving Farm Income through Cooperative Action: The Case of Farm Households Participation in Grooup Activities in Ogun State, Nigeria.” Book of Proceedings, Nigerian Association of Agricultural Economists (NAAE) Annual Conference,LAUTECH, Ogbomoso. Pp. 45-50.
*(5) Fakoya, E.O.; Ashimolowo, O.R., Adewuyi, S.A. and O.F. Ashaolu (2006): “Socio-Economic Effects of Micro-Credit on Small Scale Poultry Farmers’ Livelihood in Abeokuta North LGA of Ogun State.” Proceedings of 33rd Annual Conference of Nigerian Society of Animal Production. Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ayetoro, Ogun State. Pp. 304-307.
*(6) Ayinde, I.A., Akerele, D., Ashaolu, O.F., Adewuyi, S.A. and N. Gerald (2008). ”Economics of Palm-oil Processing in Ovia West Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria.” Paper presented at the 22nd Annual National Conference of the Farm Management Assoc. of Nigeria (FAMAN), held at the University of Agriculture,Makurdi. Sept. 8-11, 2008, pp 306-314.
(e) Unpublished Conference, Workshop/Seminar in the last Five Years
(1) Okuneye, P.A., Adewuyi S. A., Ayinde, I.A.,and O.F. Ashaolu (2005) “The Impact of Socio-Economic, Physical and Technological Environment on the Nigeria Agriculture”. Paper presented at the Nigerian Association of Agricultural Economists held at Port-Harcourt, 2005.
(2) Ashaolu, O.F. and Adewuyi, S.A. (2006): “Globalisation: Implications for Enhanced Domestic Food Production”. Being Paper presented at a Workshop on ‘Fostering Effective Agricultural Food Production in Ogun State’. Bureau of Establishments and Training, in Collaboration with Messrs Titus and Associate, Staff Development Center, Kobape Road, Abeokuta, March 28,2006.
(a) Dissertations
(1) Impact of Farm Size and Distribution Pattern on Resource Productivity and Farm Incomes in Kwara State, Nigeria. Phd. Thesis, Dept of Agricultural Economics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria., 2003.
(2) Patterns of Fish Price Movement in Lagos State, Nigeria. M.Sc Thesis, Dept of Agricultural Economics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria., 1989.
(3) Marketing of Financial Services: An Enquiry into the Structure, Conduct and Performance of Commercial Banks in Ondo State, Nigeria. B.Agric. Thesis, Dept of Agricultural Economics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria., 1985.
(b) Articles in Learned Journals
(1) Oloruntoba, A.,Ashaolu O.F., and L.A.Akinbile (2005). “Indigenous Technical Knowledge for Maize Production by Small-Scale Farmers in Odeda L.G., Ogun State, Nigeria.” Bowen Journal of Agric. 2 (1): 92-102, March 2005.
(2) Mafimisebi, T.E., Onyeka, U.P., Ayinde, I.A. and Ashaolu, O.F. (2006). ”Analysis of Farmer-specific Socio-economic Determinants of Adoption of Modern Livestock Management Technologies by Farmers in Southwest Nigeria.” Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment. 4 (1): 183-186.
(3) Shittu, A.M., Ashaolu, O.F., and O.S.Odusanya (2006). “Off-farm Labour Participation and Farm Household Livelihood Strategy in Yewa Division, Ogun State, Nigeria. FAMAN Journal 8 (1) : 64-70.
(4) Ashaolu, O.F., Akinyemi A.A and L.S.O. Nzekwe (2006). “Economic Viability of Homestead Fish Production in Abeokuta Metropolis of Ogun State, Nigeria” ASSET Journal, Series A 6 (2): 209-220.
*(5) Adewuyi, S.A. Ashaolu, O.F., Ayinde, I.A. and Ogundele, S.O. (2007). “Determinants of Farm Mechanization Among Arable-Crop Farmers in Ibarapa Zone, Oyo State, Nigeria”. Moor Journal of Agricultural Research, 7 (1): 49-55. (Abstract)
*(6) Phillip, D.O.A., Oloruntoba, A., Fakoya, E., Phillip, B., Ashaolu, O. and L. Alogba (2006). “Agricultural Price Haggling: A Case Study of Beef Retail Pricing in Ogun State of Nigeria”. China Agricultural Economic Review, 4 (4): 494-507.
*(7) Shittu, A.M., Ashaolu, O.F and B.B. Phillip (2007). “Exchange Rate Deregulation and Agricultural Export Performance in Nigeria: Evidence from Error Correction Modeling” ASSET Journal, Series C, 2 (1): 39-54.
(c) Papers already accepted for publication
(1) Ashaolu, O.F., Mafimisebi T.E., Phillip, B.B., Ajayi, A.O. Akerele, D. and O.T. Tedimola (2008). “Socio-economic Determinants of per capita Household Consumption-Expenditure on Soybean (Glycine max, L. Merril) Products in Ibarapa Zone of Oyo State, Nigeria”. In print, MOOR Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 9.
(2) Olaoye, O.J, Ashaolu, O. F, Idowu, A. A, Akintayo, I. A and J. O. Talabi (2011) “Fish Production Variables and Determinants of Demand for Ogun State Agricultural and Multipurpose Credit Agency (OSAMCA) Loans Among Fish Farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria.” Obeche Journal, Vol. 29 (1), 2011. Published by the Department of Forest Resources Management, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. ISSN 0078-2912. (Letter of Acceptance dated 18th Apr., 2011).
(3) Agbonlahor, M. U and O.F. Ashaolu (2011) Coping Strategies of Small-Scale Arable Crop Farmers to Climate Change in Ogun State, Nigeria. Benin International Journal of Agricultural Economics and Extension Services, Vol. 1 (2), 2011.
Published by the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Services, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Nigeria. (Letter of Acceptance dated 30th June., 2011).
(4 Ashaolu O.F., Agbonlahor M.U., Adewuyi S.A., Ayinde I.A., Fakoya E.O. and A. Akinyo (2010) Economics of Yam-Flour Marketing in Ibadan Metropolis of Oyo State, Nigeria”. Ife Journal of Agriculture, Vol. 25 (1), 2010. Published by Faculty
of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. (Letter of Acceptance dated 7th June, 2011).
(5) Ashaolu O.F (2011) Resource-Use Efficiency and Profitability of Ofada Rice Farming in Ogun State, Nigeria. Journal of Rural Research and Information. Published by the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Ladoke Akintola
University of Technology (LAUTECH), P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. (Letter of Acceptance dated 11th May, 2011).
(6). Ashaolu, O.F. (2010): “Production Elasticity and Returns-to-Scale of Smallholder Ofada Rice Farming, Ogun State, Nigeria”. ASSET Journal, Series C. Vol. 5 No. 1, 2010. Published by the University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria. (Letter of Acceptance dated 28th Feb., 2011).
(7) Shittu, A.M. Ashaolu, O.F. and B.B. Philip (2010). Determinants of Agricultural Labour Productivity in the West African Sub-Region, 1970-2004. ASSET Journal, Series C. Published by the University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria. (Letter of Acceptance dated 14th July, 2010).
(8) Ashaolu, O.F., Momoh, S., Ayinde, I.A. and U.B. Ugalahi (2010). Analysis of resource-use efficiency in beniseed production in Obi and Doma Local Government Areas of Nassarawa State, Nigeria. ASSET Journal, Series C. Published by the University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria. (Letter of Acceptance dated 9th July, 2010).
(9) Ashaolu, O.F., Momoh, S., Phillip, B.B. and I.A. Tijani (2009). “Microcredit Effect on Agricultural Productivity: A Comparative Analysis of Rural Farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria.”International Journal of Applied Agricultural and Apicultural Research (IJAAAR, Vol. 6, No. 1). Published by Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. (Letter of Acceptance dated 30th June, 2010).
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