President Tinubu Appoints Ayo Sotinrin As Bank Of Agriculture MD

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Ayo Sotinrin as the new Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, with his appointment taking effect immediately.

Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed the appointment in a statement on Friday, highlighting Sotinrin’s extensive experience in both the private and public sectors.

“Before this appointment, he held the position of Group Chief Executive Officer at SAO Group. His leadership at SAO Agro, an agribusiness company, was marked by groundbreaking agricultural initiatives, including developing a 20,000-hectare oil palm plantation and large-scale poultry, aquaculture, maize, and cassava operations in Ondo State.

“He also led SAO Capital, raising over $750 million in infrastructure and development finance, including the landmark $200 million Akure Water Supply Project.

“In the public sector, he served as Special Adviser (Environment & Urban Development) to the Minister of State FCT from 2011 to 2015.

“He has consulted extensively for global development partners such as the World Bank, AfDB, DFID, and USAID and played key advisory roles on federal and state-level projects. His international background includes roles at the Royal Bank of Scotland International, Deutsche Bank, and the UK Environment Agency.

“Mr. Sotinrin holds an Executive MBA from Said Business School, Oxford University; an Advanced Diploma in Environmental Conservation; and a Master’s in Engineering Business Management from Warwick University.”

According to the statement, his appointment is part of the administration’s plan to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

Tinubu emphasized that Sotinrin’s expertise in securing investment, driving innovation in agribusiness, and fostering collaboration would be key to transforming the Bank of Agriculture into a driving force for food security and rural development.

KanyiDaily recalls that President Bola Tinubu recently travelled to Paris, France for a brief working visit.