Dr. Toyin Samuel Olowogbon
1 Course • 3 StudentsBiography
Toyin Samuel Olowogbon is an Agricultural Economist affiliated with the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Empowerment, Nigeria. He also serves as a Research Fellow at the Institute of Food Security and Commercial Agriculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria, and Centre for Economic Policy and Development Research (CEPDeR), Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. He holds a Master’s and Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, supplemented by a professional postgraduate diploma in education from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Olowogbon’s expertise lies in utilizing development studies to inform evidence-based policymaking and advocacy, particularly focusing on agricultural development.
He is a postdoctoral researcher in digital agriculture at the Migal Galilee Research Institute and Tel-Hai College in Israel.
With over 15 years of experience, Olowogbon specializes in developing and testing development interventions, demonstrating a commitment to leveraging technology for sustainable agricultural practices. His recent endeavours have led him to delve into climate change research, concentrating on climate adaptation, resilience, and agricultural health. Employing experimental economics, specifically randomized evaluations, he designs and analyzes impact evaluations to inform effective strategies.
Among Dr. Olowogbon’s remarkable accomplishments is developing the SOFADRICLIMATE App (www.sofadriclimate.com), a cutting-edge digital platform that integrates climate information with weather-index microinsurance to support smallholder farmers in Nigeria. This innovative solution empowers farmers to manage climate-related risks and strengthen their resilience in agricultural practices, reflecting Dr. Olowogbon’s dedication to tackling critical agricultural challenges through technology and research-driven initiatives. The app was recognized with the SCALE Creative Adaptation Award (People’s Choice) by USAID and Mercy Corps in 2022 and was a Semi-Finalist in the MIT Solve Global Challenges in 2024.
Olowogbon has significantly contributed to academic discourse, with publications appearing in local and international outlets. Moreover, he has spearheaded various funded projects, serving as Principal Investigator for initiatives such as the Roddenberry Foundation Catalyst Grant, Retail Finance Distribution (ReFinD) by ISSER University of Ghana, and projects supported by the Centre for Effective Global Action, University of California, Berkeley and Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. Olowogbon was named among the 25 Global Young Scientists under the Green Talents Award by the German Ministry of Education and Research in 2021. Additionally, he is among the 23 Fellows of the Anant Fellowship of Climate Action conferred by Anant National University, India, as part of the 2022 cohort. He is one of the 12 awarded the Allianz Climate Risk Global Award in 2023 by Allianz Group, Munich, Germany.
Dr. Toyin Olowogbon has been recognized for his exceptional contributions to research, mentorship, and innovation in diverse capacities. In 2024, he was appointed as a Mentor for the Saleemul Huq Memorial Research Scholarship under the Alliance for Locally Led Approaches for Transformative Action on Loss and Damage (ALL ACT) Research Observatory, an initiative spearheaded by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD). He also served as an Evaluator for the World Food Forum/FAO Policy and Deliberation Challenge. He was named a Mentor by the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Health Academy of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Since 2023, he has been a member of the Technical Advisory Committee for PRO-WASH and SCALE by the FSN Network, supported by USAID.
Additionally, Dr. Olowogbon was one of just 11 young scholars competitively selected to attend the prestigious African Nobel Symposium in Economic Sciences, held at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS), South Africa, in March 2024, exploring two decades of micro-development research. A featured African Scholar in the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA African Scholar Spotlight (https://lnkd.in/eZpPnKKu). He also earned the Young African Innovators Award from the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM). These accolades reflect his unwavering dedication to fostering impactful research, mentorship, and innovation across Africa and beyond.
Apart from being a seasoned grant writer and winner, he has served as a grant selection committee/review for notable organizations, including the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Food Forum Project, Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture funded by USAID at the University of California, Davis, USA, Global Development Network (GDN) under the Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development (ORD) project. Also, he served as a reviewer for the Global Challenges (SOLVE) programme at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.
He is a successful entrepreneur, having co-founded four organizations that provide innovative solutions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He is also the author of The GrantMaster for Researchers and Professionals and The Entrepreneurial Researcher. Dr. Olowogbon is happily married to Omolola Olowogbon, and their union is richly blessed.
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