Akinkunmi Akinbode
Lagos,Nigeria
Summary
A detail-oriented professional with over 9 years of expertise and experience in protected environment cultivation design and sustainable agribusiness development. Demonstrates proficiency in precision agriculture technologies, seasonal cultivation scheduling and process improvement strategies, coupled with strong team leadership and communication skills. Adept at crisis response preparedness, risk analysis techniques, and project lifecycle management, ensuring efficient time scheduling and budget forecasting. Committed to maintaining and enhancing vendor relationships, as well as maintaining budgeting oversight while driving performance tracking and project cost estimation. Career goals include advancing sustainable agricultural practices and actively participating in the improvement of user-friendly protected environment cultivation designs through innovative solutions and strategic relationship management.
A committed manager with boots-on-ground style leadership, organisational skills and communication abilities across high-performing cross-functional teams.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
9
9
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Agricultural Project Manager
Renova Farms
Ikorodu, Lagos State
11.2020 - 11.2025
- Prepared a budget for farm input and construction material and procured from local, trusted sources
- Design and construction of 2 units of 300 square meter greenhouses with heat exractor controls, schedule-activated drip irrigation systems and insect pest traps
- designed and installed 3 open field cultivation, provide technical oversight, lead teams, develop project plans, manage production, and prepare reports
- Develop yearly planting season plans, including timelines, budgets and input sourcing
- Managed the production of 3000kg of tomatoes ( per greenhouse) and 1500 kg of peppers (open field and per greenhouse) in 2024-2025 growing seasons
- Directed and supervised the production of 1000kg Habanero peppers and 800kg tomatoes on 2-plots of land September -December 2024 for a proof-of-concept mulched cultivation
- Provide daily technical oversight/guidance on agricultural practices, irrigation systems maintenance, and sustainable farming techniques to the farm and my other team members/workers
- Developing expansion plans for an additional 2 acres of greenhouses, as well as, mulched and irrigated openfield cultivation
- Conduct seasonal assessment of cultivation practices and facilities in order to plug gaps and steamline activities, processes and procedures to cut waste and improve results
Value Chain Consultant
Vonfara Consulting limited
, Nigeria
05.2023 - 08.2023
- Conducted post-harvest loss study across several agricultural value chains, including tomatoes, maize, cocoa, dairy and catfish
- Baseline data collection for value stream mapping and stakeholder analysis and mapping
- Traceability and capacity building programs for key points of the tomato value chain
Greenhouse/Biosafety Room Building Consultant
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Project Umudike, Abia State
04.2022 - 08.2022
- Directed the full lifecycle of a greenhouse infrastructure project contract, from initial client consultation and cost analysis to structural design and facility commissioning
- supervised the construction of a 330 square meter greenhouse design with climate control for Donald Danforth partners, NRCRI Umudike, and installed climate-control systems (ventilation and extraction)
- Ensured client satisfaction with regular project updates and consultations.
- organized weekly meetings with the subcontractors (welding team lead, mason team lead) and engineers to ensure proper project coordination and timely completion
- Created a detailed completion report and maintenance manual for the project and submitted it to the client and their partners ahead of the facility handover
- Tracked performance of the greenhouse unit for 1 year with assistance from senior biotechnology department staff and department grounds keeper
Greenhouse Building Consultant /Field-farm Consultant
Letmauck Cantonment Nigerian Army Barracks
Ibadan, Oyo
08.2020 - 09.2021
- Developed copies of a comprehensive farm operations plan including seed choice, integrated pest and disease control, strategic season scheduling and a detailed guide (with KPIs and milestones) for the farm owner, his investors and workers, ensuring to address risks
- Investigated site conditions before commencement of work to ensure site conditions were appropriate for project
- Designed and supervised the construction of a cimate controlled 240 square meter greenhouse for tomato and pepper cultivation,
- Designed and supervised the installation of over 1000 meters of netafim precision irrigation for mulched and amended openfield soil cultimation
- Utilized previous professional relationships with University of Ibadan Teaching and Research farm and trainees, to source for trusted and capable farm hands and managers to staff the early phase of farm operations
- Supervised training and capacity building of farm personnel in sustainable and integrated pest and disease management practices as well as climate-smart tutoring to help understand the effects of the climate and pests on crops and soil.
- designed fertigation schedules for the greenhouse and openfield crops
Greenhouse Building Consultant
NextGen Farmers
Lekki, Lagos
09.2020 - 10.2020
- hired to design and install one unit of 18 square meter mini greenhouse for NextGen Farmers’ edible garden project in their collaboration with Lagos State Parks and Gardens
- Participated in brainstorming sessions with NextGen founder and team members for garden design plans
- Investigated site conditions before commencement of work to create a survey/report of the best orientation and position to situate the greenhouse for best use of space and best angle for solar incidence
- presented the report and cost forecast
- Installed an 18 square meter greenhouse with a modular design for easy disassembling and relocation
- Carried out assessment and repairs until March 2022
Protected Environment Cultivation Consultant
National Center for Genetic Resources & Biotechnology
Ibadan, Oyo State
02.2020 - 03.2020
- Developed a greenhouse redesign project plan, supervised its implemetation and prepared a project completion report
- Designed a ceramic tile work surface for the greenhouses to control algae, heat distribution, good drainage and good ergonomics
- Designed a sloped stone floor to control weeds and algae
Greenhouse Building Consultant/AdministrativeClerk
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
, Oyo State and Abia State
05.2019 - 08.2019
- hired to Design and implemented the renovation of a damaged 180 square meter greenhouse for Yam seed propagation by IITA YIIFSWA (Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa) and their National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI) Biotechnology Center partner in Abia State
- Engaged in a series of meetings with senior technical staff and project coordinators at IITA and NRCRI to identify project needs and expected outcomes
- Carried out the review of existing facilities including controlled environment facilities for post-flask Yam seed propagation in Abia State, designed the renovation budget and vendor list and presented the documents to IITA for approval.
- Created a detailed report I, as well as, operational and maintenance framework for the renovated greenhouse and its controlled environment features
- After the handover, I conducted yearly facility checks to support the project 2 year lifecycle
Founder and Greenhouse Builder
Argus Ecosystem Limited
Ibadan, Oyo State
08.2016 - 10.2022
- Designed and constructed a proof of concept 64 square meter greenhouse at the University of Ibadan Teaching and Research farm as an alternative to unprotected cultivation and its challenges with worsening climate conditions and Pest infestation (Tuta absoluta specifically).
- Collaborated with agricultural bodies such as CBN NIRSAL, UI Agroimpact NGO, Criterion womens group NGO and other vegetable/tomato cultivation stakeholders, to executed "seed to harvest" training programs
- Collaborated with the University of Ibadan Teaching and Research Farm department to execute free training programs for over 100 Agronomy students of the University from 2017-2020 as part of the Practical Year Training Program (PYTP).
- Successfully engaged the Teaching and Research farm for the renovation and repairs of 3 existing greenhouse units.
- Consulted for the Teaching and Research Farm managers on matters relating to seeds, fertilizers including the purchase of essential agrochemicals such as Gibberellin fruit-setting solution, Epsom Salts and Multi-K, all essential to tomato production
- Took interviews and questions from various farm visitors and research teams about greenhouse design and farming from the environmental science perspectives in vegetable cultivation. Visitors included the University Vice Chancellor and the Director, African Leadership Foundation, and Faculty of Agriculture lecturers and Post graduate students
- Participated as a Speaker at the African Union West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (AU-WACCI) "Value Chain Workshop for Tomato" hosted by National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) in Janauary 2019. Focused on the role of greenhouses or Protected environment agriculture in improving the tomato value chain
Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Intern
Greenview Development Nigeria Limited
Apapa, Lagos
06.2015 - 09.2015
- Assisted in HSE regulations compliance, organized safety drills, and generated incident reports.
Education
B.Sc. - Environmental Science
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Kumasi, Ghana 01.2012 - 01.2016
B.Sc. - Microbiology
Obafemi Awolowo University
Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria 01.2006 - 01.2011
Skills
- Protected environment cultivation design
- Sustainable agribusiness development
- Precision agriculture technologies
- Team leadership
- Problem-solving
- Communication
- Familiarity with lean concepts
- Crisis response preparedness
- Time scheduling and allocation
- Vendor relationship maintenance
- Budgeting oversight
- Risk analysis techniques
- Project lifecycle expertise
- Process improvement strategies
- Performance tracking
- Budget forecasting
- Project cost estimation
- Communication proficiency
- Relationship Management
- Public speaking
- Process Improvement
Languages
Yoruba
English
References
Reference available upon request
Timeline
Value Chain Consultant
Vonfara Consulting limited
05.2023 - 08.2023
Greenhouse/Biosafety Room Building Consultant
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
04.2022 - 08.2022
Agricultural Project Manager
Renova Farms
11.2020 - 11.2025
Greenhouse Building Consultant
NextGen Farmers
09.2020 - 10.2020
Greenhouse Building Consultant /Field-farm Consultant
Letmauck Cantonment Nigerian Army Barracks
08.2020 - 09.2021
Protected Environment Cultivation Consultant
National Center for Genetic Resources & Biotechnology
02.2020 - 03.2020
Greenhouse Building Consultant/AdministrativeClerk
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
05.2019 - 08.2019
Founder and Greenhouse Builder
Argus Ecosystem Limited
08.2016 - 10.2022
Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Intern
Greenview Development Nigeria Limited
06.2015 - 09.2015
B.Sc. - Environmental Science
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
01.2012 - 01.2016
B.Sc. - Microbiology
Obafemi Awolowo University
01.2006 - 01.2011