OTN News Celebrates Quintessential Female University Don Prof Elizabeth Oluwalana As She Bows Out of FUNAAB with 3-in-1 Celebration

By: Olufemi Orunsola 

September 19 will go down in history as the day a quintessential globally renowned female academics who has contributed tremendously to humanity, Prof Elizabeth Oluwalana took a bow out of the services of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta(FUNAAB) with three-in-one celebration to her credits.

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News, poised to celebrate her reports that the distinguished Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Prof. Elizabeth Olufunmilayo Oluwalana bows out of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta(FUNAAB) after reaching the septuagenarian milestone of 70.

OTN News further reports that for the distinguished University researcher and entrepreneur, the occasion is a three-in-one celebration of grace commemorating her birthday and retirement from a combined 43 years of service in banking sector and the academia even as she gives glory to God for her triumph and deliverance from a strange death by way of an elaborate thanksgiving ceremony at the Ibara Baptist Church, Abeokuta, on Tuesday September 21, 2025.

For the records, Prof.Mrs. Oluwalana is married to a renowned Professor of Forestry and Medicinal herbs, Prof. Samuel Oluwalana, who retired from active service of the same University some two years ago at the Department of Forestry and Wildlife.

Prof Sam Oluwalana, alongside Prof Elizabeth have earned globally renowned for their ground-breaking research and patented health products throughout thwur active years of service.

Prof Elizabeth Oluwalana(Nee Sorinmade) is a holder of B.Sc. and M. Sc. Agricultural Economics and M.Sc (Banking and Finance) of the prestigious University of Ibadan. As a double, she is, in addition, a holder of M.Sc. and Ph.D Forestry Economics and Management of the highly esteemed Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta,(FUNAAB).

She worked in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management (AEFM), FUNAAB while also domiciled at the Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre(AMREC), FUNAAB until her retirement on September 19, 2025.

Prof Oluwalana was the pioneer Deputy Director of Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies(CENTS) in FUNAAB. She was also a former Programme Leader, Gender Issues and Youths Development(GIYD) Programme in AMREC.

Throughout her entire span of service at the University, her sojourn took her to many roles as she served as pioneer lecturer at the College of Management Sciences(COLMAS) and “Skill Leader ” in Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CENTS) in 2011

Furthermore, she served in the University Community with many commendations letters from different serving Vice-Chancellors to the glory of Almighty God.

Prior to her joining the services of FUNAAB in 2001, she was the District Manager(Southwestern Nigeria) of the then National Bank of Nigeria Limited. She worked and served in the Bank in different capacities for about 20 years with promotions and commendations.

She is an experienced Entrepreneur, Life- Coach, Inventor, Educator, Consultant and Motivational Speaker at Seminars, Conferences, Workshops and on the Television and Radio Stations at the local, national and international levels, specifically in the United Kingdom and United States of America.

She has co-published several books and e-books on Herbal Therapy-based books. She is also a Co-founder of ‘Honey Medica’ Group along with her husband, Prof. Sam Oluwalana both who have NGO and a registered Enterprise namely RohiCare Capacity Development Foundation and HerbalDev Enterprise.

To date, she had published over 50 journal articles in foreign and local Journals and Referred Conference Proceedings, three Patents namely UNAAB Twins Beehivee(UTB), Sheabutter Balm and Herbal Soap(Honey-based). She had supervised over 100 undergraduate students and about 40 Postgraduate students and has additionally exhibited some of her inventions, the Value-added modern Beehive, Beekeeper’s Suits and equipment, the value-added herbal/natural cosmetics, mushrooms, herbs and Spices at different programmes at local, national and international levels with multiple awards received by the University and the Oluwalanas.

Prof. Elizabeth Oluwalana was part of Nigeria delegates at Nigeria@50 Export Trade/Exhibitions in the United Kingdom in 2010. Some of the herbal products exhibited were Value-Added Pure honey, ginger, garlic, turmeric, cinnamon, chilly pepper,and Natural/Herbal-based Cosmetics such as Sheabutter/Coconut oil- based Body cream, Baby cream, Balm, Herbal Hair-Care Herbal Soap (Honey-based).

She had organised different programmes, Seminars and Conferences for the teenagers, women/men and the Youths in Nigeria, UK and USA.

Prof. Elizabeth Oluwalana also mobilizes and trains Entrepreneurship Skills and Healthy living lifestyle to FUNAAB Students, Farm Families, Women Processors and their Male counterparts in the Southwestern, Nigeria in the FUNAAB Community and Mandate Area through Gender Issues and Youths Development (GIYD) Programme in AMREC.

She was a Facilitator and Coordinator of FADAMA ll Project for Farm Families in FUNAAB neighɓouring Villages which aimed at reducing their poverty level and improving their livelihood.

She is a Fellow of many Professionally Bodies namely, Chartered Institute of Administration(CIAN), Institute of Agribusiness Management of Nigeria (IAMN), Institute of Management Consultants(IMC/ CMC), and Institute of Classic Entrepreneurship(ICEnt).

She is an Honorary Senior Member of Charated Institute of Bankers (CIBN) and Professional Member of Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM).

She also belong to many Academic Associations such as Farm Management Association(FAMAN) and Forests and Forest Products Society(FFPS).