Prof A. Babatunde Obilana is a Development Consultant, specializing in Grain and Feedstock end-user needs and Impact assessment. His Academic Qualifications include:

• PhD; Plant Breeding and Genetics, IOWA State University, Ames, IOWA USA (1975 – 77)
• M.Sc; Plant Breeding, IOWA State University, Ames, IOWA, USA (1971 – 1972), and
• B.Sc. (Hons) Botany, University of Ibadan, Nigeria (1965 – 68)

Professor A. Babatunde Obilana started his career 40 years ago (1969 – 2008) in Cereal Breeding and utilization; Agricultural Development, Monitoring, Coordination, Evaluation and Research, Impact Generation; University Teaching; Technology Exchange; Effective Partnerships and Consulting experiences, which traverse Sub-Sahara Africa (Nigeria, WCA region for 18 years; working in the SADC and ESA regions and living in Zimbabwe and Kenya respectively for 19 years and travelling/working in 37 countries), India and USA.

Professor Obilana has also worked as:
• Principal Scientist/Breeder at International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) India/Africa from 1985 to 2004;
• Principal Sorghum Breeder, SADC/ICRISAT SMIP, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe 1985 – 2000;
• Regional Coordinator, East and Central Africa Regional Sorghum and Millet (ECARSAM) NETWORK, Nairobi, Kenya 2001 – 2003;
• Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics 1983; Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria;
• Adjunct Professor, Old Dominion University, Norfolk Virginia, USA, 1987 – 1992.

He retired from ICRISAT in January 2004 and has since been a Consulting Expert in International Agricultural Development, Monitoring, Coordination; Evaluation and Research; Production, Commercialization through Processing and Utilization of Sorghum, Millets, Rice, Maize with effect from February 2004.

In addition, Prof. Obilana has been involved in professional Consulting and Training works, amongst which are:
• Panel chair for the ARC (Agric Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa) Grain and Industrial Crops.
• Consultant Breeder for Nigerian Breweries Plc in Sorghum Value Chain Project (SVCP) 2004 to date
• Team Leader for UNDP SU/SSC – etc,
• Chief Resource Person, McFeley Development Associates, Lagos Nigeria 2006 to date.

Professor Obilana is currently a Director with Global Biofuels Ltd and is directly responsible for the feedstock production activities of the group.

Prof. Obilana is also in partnership with several organisations in Public/Private Sector linkages, namely:
• a. Bilateral National Collaboration on Agricultural related matters in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, Botswana, Tanzania, Mozambique, Lesotho, Angola, Malawi from 1985 – 2000
• b. International Sorghum and Millet Collaborative Support Programme (INTSORMIL) USA between 1986 – 2004; United Kingdom/DFIC- Horticultural Research International, UK 2001 – 2003; University of Hohenheim, Germany 1998 – 2002, University of Pretoria, RSA, 1996 – 2002, University of the North, Siavonga RSA, 1998 – 2000
• c. Project champion of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) East Africa, CARE.

He has published over 200 articles in book chapters, learned international and regional journals, websites, encyclopedia and co-published 4 books.