Yoruba Leadership Shines in Tinubu’s Government with Appointment of Ayo Sotinrin as MD of Bank of Agriculture

Sotinrin comes to the position with an extensive and diverse background, having worked in both the private and public sectors. Before his appointment, he served as the Group Chief Executive Officer at SAO Group, where his leadership at SAO Agro was marked by groundbreaking agricultural initiatives. Notably, Sotinrin oversaw the development of a 20,000-hectare oil palm plantation and large-scale poultry, aquaculture, maize, and cassava operations in Ondo State.

In addition to his work in agribusiness, Sotinrin also led SAO Capital, raising over $750 million in infrastructure and development finance. This included the landmark $200 million Akure Water Supply Project.

Sotinrin’s public sector experience includes serving as Special Adviser on Environment & Urban Development to the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from 2011 to 2015. His consulting work spans global development partners like the World Bank, AfDB, DFID, and USAID, and he has advised on federal and state-level projects.

Internationally, Sotinrin has held roles at prestigious institutions such as the Royal Bank of Scotland International, Deutsche Bank, and the UK Environment Agency. His academic qualifications include an Executive MBA from Said Business School, Oxford University, an Advanced Diploma in Environmental Conservation, and a Master’s in Engineering Business Management from Warwick University.

The statement also emphasized that Sotinrin’s appointment aligns with President Tinubu’s vision to revitalize Nigeria’s agricultural sector. His proven ability to mobilize capital, drive innovation in agribusiness, and foster collaborations across sectors is expected to play a vital role in repositioning the Bank of Agriculture as a key catalyst for food security, agricultural sovereignty, and rural prosperity.