President Bola Tinubu has appointed Ayo Sotinrin as the new Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture.
The appointment was announced on Friday and takes effect immediately, as stated by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Sotinrin comes into the role with a wealth of experience from both private and public sectors.
He was the Group Chief Executive Officer of SAO Group before this appointment.
During his time at SAO Agro, he oversaw major agricultural projects, such as a 20,000-hectare oil palm plantation and large-scale operations in poultry, fish farming, maize, and cassava in Ondo State.
He also led SAO Capital, where he secured over $750 million in funding for infrastructure and development projects.
One of the key projects he helped raise funds for was the $200 million Akure Water Supply Project.
Between 2011 and 2015, Sotinrin worked in the public sector as a Special Adviser on Environment and Urban Development to the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory.
He has also worked with international development organisations like the World Bank, African Development Bank, DFID, and USAID, offering advice on various state and federal projects.
Outside Nigeria, he held roles in international institutions such as the Royal Bank of Scotland International, Deutsche Bank, and the UK’s Environment Agency.
Sotinrin studied at top institutions, including Oxford University, where he earned an Executive MBA.
He also holds a Master’s degree in Engineering Business Management from Warwick University, and an Advanced Diploma in Environmental Conservation.