We sat down with ARN researcher Ibukun James Olaoye and asked him to share his story. Here's what he had to say:
I currently work as a post-doctoral research fellow at the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) Ibadan, the premier policy thinktank in Nigeria. My academic journey began in 2012 with a Bachelor of Agriculture degree, followed by a master’s degree in agricultural economics in 2016, which culminated in a PhD in Agricultural Economics, in 2022, from the Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, University of Ilorin. Additionally, between 2014 and 2016, I won an African Union Scholarship to study at the Pan African University, Institute of Life and Earth Science, in Ibadan, where I obtained another master’s degree in environmental management in November 2016.
In my PhD thesis on “The Impact of Fertilizer Policy change on Cereal Production in Nigeria”, I investigated both the micro and macro environment of fertilizer policy change in Nigeria, the patronage and leakages in the distribution of subsidized fertilizer, and the role of governance towards ensuring sustainable food production and agricultural growth.
In addition to my academic accomplishments, I have further enriched my skillset by participating in a series of training workshops including: Grant Proposal Development by the International Center for Evaluation and Development (ICED); Trading for Development in the Age of Global Value Chains by the World Bank Group; Unlocking Investment and Finance in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs) by the World Bank Group; leadership training by YALI West Africa; Mentoring for Research by ISNAD-Africa; Promoting Interdisciplinary Research in West Africa: A Writing Workshop for Early Career Researchers by Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of York and the British Academy; and scholarly writing training by NISER, among others. I am an active member of a few research networks, including the ALL-IN Research Network (ARN), Econometric Society, Development Studies Association, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA), and Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association (NARE).
At NISER, I am primarily assigned to the Department of Agriculture and Food Policy, where I have since been involved in many team research projects, some of which have been developed into reports and policy briefs, while some are currently ongoing projects. Presently, I am a visiting research fellow to the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University, New York, USA, as part of the fourth and final cohort in the Structural Transformation of African and Asian Agriculture and Rural Spaces (STAAARS+) Fellows program. This program is part of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy, Research, Capacity, and Influence (PRCI), organized by IFPRI, Cornell University and MSU. In this program, I and a fellow researcher from NISER, together with mentors from Lafayette College and Cornell University are investigating “How crop diversification affects the well-being of smallholder households in Nigeria.”
Prior to my engagement with NISER, I worked as a research fellow with the maize research team, in the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Ilorin, on several developmental projects. I have also worked as a senior training consultant for several consultancy firms, including Synergy Impacts Consultants Limited, Magic Touch Business Solution Limited, and others. In those roles, I coordinated trainings and drafted reports for both government and international agencies like the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute, Nigerian Store Products Research Institute, National Veterinary Research Institute, Federal Cooperative College, IFAD-CASP/FGN, and many more. Most of these projects are tailored for different categories of participants including farmers, youth, women, professionals, researchers, policy makers, exporters or marketers, etc.
In 2013, I was given a Taraba State Honour Award for my tremendous community development service contribution during my one-year compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) experience in the state. I received this recognition for installing a solar panel and inverter system to power 100 laptops for student at Government Secondary School Serti, Gashaka, due to the lack of national electricity grid presence in the community.
In addition to coordinating interschool quiz competitions and conducting advocacy campaigns on HIV and AIDS for senior secondary school students within the local government, my dedication to fostering positive change in every community I engage with prompted me to launch two initiatives: the "DI-Grace Development Initiative" and "GIRD Business and Environmental Consult." These endeavors are aimed at assisting the most vulnerable members of society, including farmers, the elderly, and children (both boys and girls) by providing them with the necessary knowledge and skills to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change, which is particularly urgent in our country.
Outside of “9-5” training and research, I enjoy listening to music, singing, playing and watching football, and watching action and wild animal movies at cinemas. I also enjoy traveling, which is a passion I developed during my time at university and while working in consultancy.
As a researcher, my keen interests cover an interdisciplinary approach to issues intersecting agriculture, agricultural innovation, climate change, and household welfare within the broader perspective of agricultural policy, developmental economics, and environmental management.
This was born out of my curiosity on how we can sustainably use resources to meet developmental needs given changes in science, innovation, technology and, conversely, the environment. This allows me to explore how economies can grow using limited resources in a sustainable manner. The recognition that our actions, or lack thereof, along with their consequences, are interconnected with the processes of change and the various actors operating within a system.
Hence, the need to examine the interconnection within how food is produced using various inputs and practices in the face of a changing environment (climate, economy, culture, and politics). It also fueled the interest in exploring how these changes are governed, planned, and managed to provide a desirable state for sustained growth, development, and improved households’ well-being, especially when it has to do with the most vulnerable group or community, like the one in which I grew up.
My roots are linked to a rural community life, Iwo Isin LGA, in Kwara state, and my parents are teachers who also cultivate several plots of farmland to supplement their livelihood. Hence, since childhood, I have loved to interact with these complex issues of agricultural innovation, food production, climate change, and sustainable environment. This is one of the reasons why my current research focuses on understanding the channels through which crop diversification may affects rural households’ welfare, especially in a developing economy context like Nigeria.
Some of the most interesting findings from my PhD research work on the impact of fertilizer policy on cereal production, of which some parts have been published as a book chapter and a peer reviewed journal, include:
My research work regarding the role of government expenditure on research and development (R&D) and governance on economic growth, using panel data of selected African economies, shows that good governance is a necessary condition for government expenditure on R&D to have a desired impact and sustained economic growth. In addition, through my research, I have found that local inventors improve rural well-being through the development of energy-efficient cooking stoves that improve indoor air quality and rural health. My study has also demonstrated how both socioeconomic and institutional factors, the designs of the cooking stoves, and kitchen location critically affect the diffusion of frugal innovation technology, especially in the case of improved clay-lined metal charcoal stoves.
I have had several opportunities of working with government agencies and individuals on different research, trainings, and capacity building projects. These usually come with diverse challenges.
Generally, the challenges that I face relate to issues surrounding different leadership styles and characteristics, team composition and commitment, and sometimes insincerity, self-centeredness, and lack of human empathy on the part of many, especially when dealing with complicated issues. Dealing and interacting with people of different backgrounds, disciplines, principles, and belief systems has actually made me a better person.
Diplomacy and ethics, without contradicting my desire to have a good team and protect the right and interest of members, have been my watchwords to navigate this complex and dynamic terrain, especially when it has to do with research.
In addition to this, there is a lack of access to securing adequate funding, which then constrains the scope and pace of research work. Additionally, the formulation of actionable policy briefs proves to be a formidable task, demanding a deep understanding of complex issues and their practical implications. Another critical challenge arises in ensuring the accurate dissemination of research findings to government officials and development practitioners, especially in regions with underdeveloped industries like Nigeria. Moreover, fostering robust relationships between industry stakeholders, private sectors, and research institutions remains elusive, particularly in developing countries. These obstacles collectively hinder the translation of research outcomes into tangible solutions for societal challenges.
I am always happy whenever I make a breakthrough or contribute to advancing knowledge through my research efforts. Furthermore, I am particularly thrilled when I secure research grants, interact with farmers and rural communities during data collection or field surveys, participate in conferences and research workshops, and see my work published in high-impact journals within my discipline.
Lastly, I get a sense of fulfillment when my research leads to a change that revamps government policy through policy engagement with relevant stakeholders, thus working towards building a sustainable society and rural livelihood.
