Labode Popoola (born 28 September 1960) is a Nigerian academic. He is a professor of

forest economics A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...

and was the 3rd substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Osun State University.

Early life

Poopola was born in

Inisa Inisa is a city in Osun State in the south-western Nigeria. It is in the Yoruba cultural and ethnic region of the country, and is a trading center for cocoa and other agricultural products grown in the surrounding area. Its population as of 2007 w ...

, a local government area of

Osun State Osun State (; yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Ọ̀ṣun), occasionally known as the State of Osun by the state government, is a state in southwestern Nigeria; bounded to the east by Ekiti and Ondo states, to the north by Kwara State, to the south by Ogu ...

. He obtained a Bachelor of Science, Honours in 1984 from the

University of Ibadan The University of Ibadan (UI) is a public research university in Ibadan, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1948 as University College Ibadan, one of many colleges within the University of London. It became an independent university in 1962 ...

. Following the completion of the compulsory one-year youth service program in 1985, he earned a master's degree in Forest Economics and Management (1987) and later received the doctor of philosophy in Forest Economics in 1990 all at the

Career

Poopola began his academic career in January 1988 as a Graduate assistant at University of Ibadan. He rose to the rank of senior lecturer in 1997 and became a full professor of Forest Economics in 2002. He contributed to the development of the curriculum for the teaching of

forest management Forest management is a branch of forestry concerned with overall administrative, legal, economic, and social aspects, as well as scientific and technical aspects, such as silviculture, protection, and forest regulation. This includes management fo ...

in Nigerian universities. He served as the Head of Department of Forest Resources Management from 2005 to 2006. He later became Dean, Postgraduate school, University of Ibadan (2006-2010). He became Director for the Centre for Sustainable Development for University of Ibadan (2010-2016). Professor Labode worked as an external examiner for over seventeen years at institutions includingFederal College of Forestry in Ibadan, Federal college of Forest Merchanization in Kaduna,

University of Uyo The University of Uyo is located in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The university was formerly known as the University of Cross River State, Uyouniuyo.edu.ng. On 1 October 1991 the Federal government of Nigeria established it as ...

, Enugu State University, Federal University of Technology in Akure,

Abeokuta Abeokuta is the capital city of Ogun State in southwest Nigeria. It is situated on the east bank of the Ogun River, near a group of rocky outcrops in a wooded savanna; north of Lagos by railway, or by water. , Abeokuta and the surroundin ...

, Markudi and in Yola,

University College In a number of countries, a university college is a college institution that provides tertiary education but does not have full or independent university status. A university college is often part of a larger university. The precise usage varies ...

Dublin, Ireland Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 c ...

, UK.

Associations

He belongs to many professional associations, including: * Association of Research Managers, (UK) * African Sustainable Development Network * United Nation Sustainable Development Solutions Network * International Society of Tropical Foresters * Commonwealth Forestry Association * African Network for Agroforestry Education * Agroforestry Research Network for Africa * Rural Development Forestry Network * African Forest Research Network * African Forest Forum * West African Research * Innovation Management Association * Forestry Association of Nigeria (Life Member, Fellow, National Secretary).

Publications

Poopola has written over 150 publications.

Recognition

* Best all round student in academic, sports and character in Saint Patrick's College, Ibadan and Character * Service Award Ibadan Diocese in 1978 * Postgraduate scholar at University of Ibadan (1988 -1990) * Executive Member in African Network for Agroforestry Education (1999-2001) * Award for Invaluable Service in Agroforestry from the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (2001). * National Contact Person, African Forest Research Network (2001-2010) * Invaluable Service to the Forestry Profession from the Council of the Association of Nigeria (2002) * National Chairman of Inisa Descendants’ Union, the umbrella union for

indigenes (2004-2010).

Personal life

Labode is a married man with kids.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Popoola, Labode Living people 1960 births Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian universities University of Ibadan alumni Academic staff of the University of Ibadan