President Tinubu Appoints Ayo Sotinrin As New Managing Director OF Bank OF Agriculture

The announcement was made by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Friday, April 4, 2025. Tinubu highlighted Sotinrin’s diverse experience in both the private and public sectors, emphasizing his ability to mobilize capital, drive innovation in agribusiness, and foster cross-sector collaboration.

According to the statement, Sotinrin’s appointment is aimed at transforming the Bank of Agriculture into a driving force for food security, sovereignty, and rural development.

Before this appointment, Sotinrin served as Group CEO at SAO Group, where he led groundbreaking agricultural initiatives, including a 20,000-hectare oil palm plantation and large-scale poultry, aquaculture, maize, and cassava operations in Ondo State. He also played a pivotal role at SAO Capital, securing over $750 million in development finance, including the $200 million Akure Water Supply Project.

In the public sector, Sotinrin served as Special Adviser on Environment & Urban Development to the Minister of State FCT from 2011 to 2015. His extensive consulting experience includes work with the World Bank, AfDB, DFID, and USAID, as well as advisory roles on federal and state projects.

Sotinrin’s international experience includes positions at the Royal Bank of Scotland International, Deutsche Bank, and the UK Environment Agency. He holds an Executive MBA from Said Business School, Oxford University, a Master’s in Engineering Business Management from Warwick University, and an Advanced Diploma in Environmental Conservation.

The Tinubu administration believes Sotinrin’s leadership will significantly impact the revitalization of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.