Dr. ADENIPEKUN GABRIEL SHITU

Biography

Dr Shitu Adenipekun Gabriel is an Agricultural economics, Agricultural extension
and rural development expert with over a decade of professional experience.
Growing up locally, he combines deep-rooted knowledge of his community with
global expertise, making him uniquely equipped to drive transformative change
and profitability in any organization he serves. He distinguished himself
academically early on, graduating as the best student of the Faculty of Agriculture
from the University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, in 2010, earning a First Class (Hons)
degree in Agricultural Economics and Extension Services. His academic
excellence continued through his master’s program at the University of
Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, India, where he was honored as the overall best student, receiving the
University Merit Award, thanks to a prestigious African Union and Government of India (GoI)
scholarship. In 2014, Dr Shitu won the prestigious ICAR International Research Fellowship worth of
40,000 USD research grant to work on his PhD research Project at Indian Agricultural Research
Institute (IARI), New Delhi, India. Passionate about leveraging agriculture for sustainable development,
Dr Shitu focuses on designing innovative capacity-building programs that empower stakeholders
across Africa to unlock the continent’s vast agricultural potential. His dedication to excellence in
agricultural research has earned him numerous international accolades, including the International
Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) Scholar Award in 2017, the Green Talent Award in 2015, and the ICAR
International Research Fellowship in 2014. Dr Shitu’s extensive field experience includes serving as
the Capacity Development Officer for the African Development Bank-funded ENABLE TAAT Compact
at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). In this role, he managed and implemented
Agribusiness training programs that impacted youth across multiple African countries, including
Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, the DRC, Benin Republic, and Uganda.

Research Interests

Climate Smart Agriculture
Precision Agriculture
Sustainable Rural Development
Artificial Intelligence in Agricture
Small-scale Farm Profitability
Diffusion of Innovations

Qualifications

Awards

Grants

Scholarship

Membership of Professional Bodies

Paper Presentation - Local

Paper Presentation - International

Undergraduate Project Supervision

Course Teaching

Selected Publications