Joshua Olanrewaju Olaoye graduated from the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria with B. Eng. degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1990. He had his M. Eng. and Ph.D in Agricultural Engineering from the same University in 1995 and 2004 respectively. He joined the services of the University of Ilorin, Ilorin in 1998 as an academic and research staff in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering of the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. Olaoye rose through the ranks to become a Professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering on October 1, 2017.
Olaoye conducts research in agricultural mechanization and analysis of agricultural productivity on some farm operations, including the influence of tillage on soil properties and yield components of some staple crops. It also includes on-farm field research and model field experiments for applied research, testing and development of methods for physical soil analysis, analysis of the motion of weeding tools and development of rotary power weeder, design, fabrication and performance of a multipurpose row planting machine, and effect of land clearing operation on tillage mechanization for high crop productivity, and performance evaluation of an indigenous rotary power weeder, among others. Olaoye has conducted extensive research on the machinery development and processing conditions of the following crops: Locust bean, Castor nut, Shea nut, Maize, Mango and Tomato among others.
Olaoye has held various administrative positions as a member of research and academic staff in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering University of Ilorin. He was appointed Departmental Examination Officer (2004 to 2006), Sub Dean, Faculty of Engineering & Technology (2006 to 2011), Staff Adviser, National Society of Black Engineers, Unilorin Chapter, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria (2007 to 2011), Postgraduate Coordinator, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department (2008 to 2012), Senate Representative, Senate Research Grant Committee, Head of the Department Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering in (2012 – 2014), Pioneer Head of Department, Food Engineering (2014 – 2016), Deputy Director, Unilorin Renewable Energy Centre (UREC), University of Ilorin, Ilorin. (2017 – 2018), Director, Unilorin Renewable Energy Centre (UREC), University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. 29th November, 2018 to 2022, Senate Representative, Appointment and Promotion Committee, August 2019 to 2022.
Olaoye registered with COREN in 2005 as a registered Engineer, Nigeria. He is also a member of many Local, National and International Associations and Professional bodies. He is a Fellow of Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE); Member, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Member, Gideons’ International; Member American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineer (ASABE), and Member, International Soil Tillage Research Organsation (ISTRO), Member, Solar Energy Society of Nigeria (SESN) among others. As a member of professional bodies he has also served in the following capacities: Treasurer (2006 to 2009) and Financial Secretary (2009 to 2012), Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers; Desk Officer, Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineer (NIAE) – American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ASABE) Cooperative Agreement (2012 – 2014) and Technical Secretary, International Soil Tillage Research Organization, Nigeria Branch (2010 to date). Secretary, Gideons’ International, Ilorin East Camp (2001-2004) and President, Gideons International Ilorin East Camp (2019 to 2021), The National Vice Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE) (2016 – to 2021). He was appointed Editor in Chief of Journal of Agricultural Engineering and Technology (JAET), the Professional Journal of Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (2021 – to date)
Olaoye has attended academic and professional conferences worldwide in at least four continents of the world he was also actively participated in organizing the conferences. Olaoye participated actively to organize the ISTRO-Nigeria Symposium that was held successfully in 2011 on Tillage for Agricultural Productivity and Environmental Sustainability. As a team player, his role as Technical Secretary, ISTRO-Nigeria Branch has led positively to the reorganization of ISTRO – Nigeria Branch. The branch is one of the branches with largest membership as of today. His goal is to promote and resuscitate active regional Branch activities in Africa so as to achieve global focus and effect core values of the organization. He was the Chairman, Central Planning Committee (CPC) of the:
18th International Conference and 38th National Conference and Annual General Meeting (Umudike 2017) of the Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE) (A division of NSE) held at the Anyim Pius Anyim Auditorium, Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria between October 3 and October 6, 2017.
19th International Conference and 39th National Conference and Annual General Meeting (Eko 2018) of the Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE) (A division of NSE) held at the Akinrele Auditorium of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Organization (FIIRO), Oshodi, Lagos State, Nigeria between 10th and 14th September, 2018.
Olaoye had secured scholarships and Fellowship awards to have participated in the:
International Training Workshop on Application Technology of Oil-tea Camellia (Camellia Oleifera) in Developing Countries. Scholarship Awarded by the Department of International Cooperation of Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Peoples’ Republic of China, organized by the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and hosted by the Hunan Academic of Forestry, Changsha, Hunan, China. In 2011.
Crop Seed Technology Training Course for Developing Countries. Scholarship Awarded by the Department of International Cooperation of Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Peoples’ Republic of China, organized by the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and hosted by the Hubei Provincial Seed Group Co. Ltd., China in 2010.
Scholarship Award to attend Workshop on Entrepreneurship for Physicists and Engineers from Developing Countries. Scholarship Awarded by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy from 3 – 7 May 2010.
IITA – Postgraduate Support and Sponsorship of Ph. D. Field work and Laboratory Investigations (2003/2004 Academic Session).
Federal Government Scholar for M. Eng Programme (1992/93 Academic Session).
Olaoye is a recipient of the following awards: Competitive Agricultural Research Grant Scheme (CARGS) Award 2011, Education Trust Fund Research Grant (ETF) Research Grant Award 2011, Innovate UK: African agriculture knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP): 2020 to 2021, round 4 among others.
Olaoye presently serves as referee for several journals. He teaches agricultural machinery and power with emphasis on design of agricultural implements and equipment, analysis of traction and transport mechanisms and power selection for mechanized agriculture to undergraduate and graduate students at several institutions. Olaoye has carried out research activities in areas of Farm Power and Machinery and Post Harvest Engineering. His current research focus is on Research Initiatives on Software and Hard Ware Components of Aquaculture in the Tropics with Reference to Flow Through, RAS, etc, Development of Biofuels Distillation Unit and Utilization of Sugarcane By-Products and Conversion and Utilization of Crop Residue into Viable and Environmental Friendly Alternative Source of Energy (biogas, briquettes etc).
Olaoye has published widely in both local, national professional and international journals and he has single authored or co-authored over 132 scientific, transactions and technical publications, including 85 peer-reviewed journal articles, 3 books, 6 chapter in books, 3 technical reports, 35 conference proceedings. He has supervised to his credit fourteen HND graduates, 124 B. Eng and 24 M. Eng graduates, 9 PhD graduates and also he is currently supervising 6 Ph. D. candidates.
