# Felix Salako

Felix Kolawole Salako (born 18 April 1961) is a Nigerian professor of Soil Physics who served as the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, from 2017 to 2022. He is a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria (FSSSN), and was a two-term deputy vice chancellor before his elevation as the vice chancellor of the said Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

## Education

Salako attended Apostolic Church Grammar School, Orishigun village, in Lagos starting January 1973. He was the Labour Prefect during the 1976/77 academic session and graduated in 1977 with Division One of the West African School Certificate (WASC). He then proceeded to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he earned a Bachelor of Agriculture (B.Agric) and a Master of Science (MSc) in Soil Sciences in 1983 and 1986 respectively. Salako later got his PhD from the University of Ibadan in 1997.

## Career

Professor Salako is a Nigerian soil scientist with a career in agricultural research and education. He began his professional journey in 1987 as a Consulting Soil Scientist at TCI Associates in Ibadan. In 1989, he joined the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, where he managed a project in collaboration with the United Nations University at the Okomu Oil Palm Company, Edo State, serving as a Resident Research Associate until 2000.
In 2000, Salako became a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Soil Science and Land Management at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB). He was promoted to Professor of Soil Physics in 2006. Throughout his tenure, he has supervised over 50 undergraduate projects and more than 30 postgraduate theses. He has authored over 90 publications, including journal articles, book chapters, and technical reports.
Salako has held various administrative roles, including Acting Head of the Department from 2001 to 2006, Director of the Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC) from 2008 to 2011, and Pioneer Director of the Community-Based Farming Scheme (COBFAS) in 2011. He served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development) from September 2011 to December 2015.
Professor Salako was listed in Marquis Who's Who in Science and Engineering, Eighth Edition, 2005-2006 in recognition for his achievements. He has received numerous research-support grants, including those from The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and the Training and Research in Italian Laboratories (TRIL) of the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Italy. He participated actively from 2016 to 2020 in the African Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI) as the southwest coordinator under the auspices of IITA, Ibadan. He is also a member of several Professional Societies and was once an Associate Editor for the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, Iowa, USA.
Professor Salako focused his research over the years on: (1) Rainfall Erosivity and Soil Conservation, (2) Soil Water Flux and Evapotranspiration, and (3) Soil Water Management using Agronomic Practices and Improved Fallow Systems. He has also been involved in Rural Community Development projects across Nigeria. Some of these activities led to his being honored with chieftain titles in two communities in Ogun state; Ishaga Orile and Iwoye Ketu. He was also very active as a community leader in private residential areas.