Prof. Olubunmi Rufina Ashimolowo

Ashimolowo Olubunmi Rufina is a Professor of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, an activist, and a feminist. She earned masters and doctoral degrees from University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She has a MSc (module) in Veterinary Communication and Extension (Extension and Veterinary) from University of Pretoria, South Africa. She attended Long Term Election Observation and Election Management Training at Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Ghana. She holds a Post graduate diploma in Education (National Teachers’ Institute, Kaduna).
Ashimolowo Olubunmi, was appointed the Ogun State Supervisor for Ogun State Sub-National Budget Transparency Survey (Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre, Enugu State and World Bank Initiative (2016-2022). She served as a member of Ogun State Forum for Sustainable Development at State level; German International Cooperation Initiative (July 2020 to date); member of the Gender Mainstreaming Committee, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria (2007-2009); Deputy co-Chair for Africa – Rural Women’s Studies Association (2015 to date); and National Vice President, Nigerian Association of Evaluators (2015 to 2022). She was part of the Strategic Planning Team for various institutions such as: Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU- 2011) Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research (NITR – 2013), Federal University Oye (FUOYEK – 2013), Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT-2014).
She has served the Nigerian government at both the state and federal levels in different capacities; notably as the Returning Officer (INEC) of the Federal Constituencies (Senate and House of Representatives 2015, 2019 elections). She served as a member of the Ogun State Working Group on Anti-Human Trafficking (2021 to date).
Olubunmi Ashimolowo is actively involved in the Civil Society Movement in Ogun State and in Nigeria particularly in the areas of defense of human rights, democracy/governance and good governance. She is the founder and Executive Director of Gender Development Initiative, a non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting a Nigeria where children, youth and women are empowered to be self-reliant and uplift their socio-economic potentials. She is the Co-Convener of the Ogun State //secureourlives and Ogun State Womanifesto (where team members worked to support the 5 female gender bills at the National Assembly) and the she is the current President of Association for the Promotion of Community Health, Women and Girls Rights (APROCHGW).
Ashimolowo Olubunmi is a recipient of Jensen-Neth Fund Award for conference Attendance in honor of Joan Jensen and in memory of Mary Neth, both of whom were founding members of the Rural Women Sociological Association (RWSA) (2015, 2018, 2021); Cherie Blair Foundation’s Mentoring Women in Business Programme Award of Mentoring by Cherie Blair Foundation for Women (2015); Team Research Grant by Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP/PPAAO) (2014); Award for Online Distance Learning Course on Veterinary Communication and Extension by Centre Technique de Corporation Agricole et Rurale (CTA) (2009); Scholarship for Development of Participatory Crop Improvement to Support Small-Scale Businesses by Netherlands University Foundation for International Cooperation NUFFIC Netherlands Fellowship Programme NFP (2008); Scholarship for African Nutrition Leadership Programme, Northwest University, Potchefstroom South Africa by Netherlands University Foundation for International Cooperation NUFFIC Netherlands Fellowship Programme NFP (2005); cholarship for Integrated Pest Management International Agricultural Centre, Wageningen, Netherlands by Netherlands University Foundation for International Cooperation NUFFIC/ Netherlands Fellowship Programme NFP (2005); and Small Research Grant for Thesis Writing by Council for Development for Social Science Research in Africa CODESRIA (2002). Prof. Olubunmi Ashimolowo has impacted thousands of lives through provision of free education to the poor, supporting rape victims and those whose rights have been violated.
In 2011, Ashimolowo was elected as the President, Divine Economic Assistance Programme; She has served as a consultant/trainer in Agriculture, Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Health of Adolescents and Youths, human rights, gender issues, good governance and conflict resolution to many international and national organizations including Children Investment Funds, Ministry of Women Affairs, etc. She pioneered ‘4’Kids TV Programmes and Better Tomorrow/Ojo Ola to Re wa (OGTV, EKTV, from 2015 to 2021). Her publications ranges on divers’ issues around human rights; youths, women and children’s rights; education; HIV/AIDs; household food security, sexual and reproductive health and rights etc,
Olubunmi has practical and teaching experience in entrepreneurial activities; she has delivered public lectures around the world on sexual and reproductive rights, human trafficking, human rights, transparency and accountability, gender, peace, democracy and good governance, and has published 70 academic publications and more than 80 conference papers – published and unpublished; an author of 3 (three) Agricultural books (SS1-SS3)- Melrose; expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research, monitoring and evaluation.
Ashimolowo Olubunmi is married to the Vice President (Operations) – ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development. They have two children—Esther and Oluwasegun. Olubunmi’s hobbies include filming, musicals, and travelling, reading.