President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the appointment of Mr. Sotinrin as the new head of the Bank of Agriculture, according to a statement signed on Friday by the President’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.
Sotinrin comes into the role with an impressive and diverse portfolio of experience across both private and public sectors. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Group Chief Executive Officer of SAO Group. Under his leadership, SAO Agro—an agribusiness arm of the group—spearheaded several transformative agricultural initiatives. Notably, he oversaw the development of a 20,000-hectare oil palm plantation and large-scale operations in poultry, aquaculture, maize, and cassava in Ondo State.
He also led SAO Capital, where he was instrumental in raising over $750 million in development and infrastructure financing. Among the key projects under his watch was the $200 million Akure Water Supply Project, a landmark investment in public infrastructure.
Sotinrin’s public sector experience includes serving as the Special Adviser on Environment and Urban Development to the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between 2011 and 2015. His advisory expertise extends to global development organizations such as the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), Department for International Development (DFID), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). He has contributed to numerous federal and state-level projects in Nigeria.
Internationally, Sotinrin has held key roles with reputable institutions including the Royal Bank of Scotland International, Deutsche Bank, and the UK Environment Agency.
Academically, he is well-grounded with an Executive MBA from the Said Business School at Oxford University. He also holds an Advanced Diploma in Environmental Conservation and a Master’s degree in Engineering Business Management from Warwick University.
The statement emphasized that Sotinrin’s appointment is in line with the Tinubu administration’s broader strategy to rejuvenate Nigeria’s agricultural sector. The President expressed confidence that Sotinrin’s demonstrated ability to attract investment, drive innovation in agribusiness, and foster cross-sector collaboration will be pivotal in transforming the Bank of Agriculture into a cornerstone institution for ensuring food security, promoting rural prosperity, and strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural sovereignty.
