“Researching the nexus between various communication approaches, capacity development and the adoption of grain legumes among smallholder farmers in Nigeria will contribute to sustainable agricultural development and household food security.”

Research Interests and Future Goals

Tiwalola holds a B. Agric. degree with a First-Class Honours division in Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. She has a Master’s degree in Management of Development with a specialization in Rural Development and Communication from Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, in the Netherlands. 

In 2011, Tiwalola completed an internship program at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Obafemi Awolowo University, where she was introduced to practical agriculture by planting food crops that served the community. She then worked in the Department of Agricultural Administration, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, during the compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corps in Nigeria. She further served as an agro-extension officer under Nigeria’s National Social Investment Management System (NASIMS) where she was involved in innovation dissemination to farmers. Tiwalola hopes to be involved in the capacity development of smallholder farmers by finding ways to put her research findings in the hands of non-scientific communities, including farmers.

Why become an Arrell Scholar?

Tiwalola chose the University of Guelph because it promotes research by partnering with other high-ranking organizations for agricultural development. In her words, ¨the Arrell Food Institute allows its students to have industry experience where they can interact with professionals at the forefront of research and development¨. Tiwalola hopes to use her knowledge and skills from her studies to contribute to the agricultural development of her home country, Nigeria, and the world at large.