Soji Adelaja, PhD
Special Advisor
Board of Directors Special Advisor
Adesoji Adelaja holds the esteemed position of John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor and is the Director of the Land Policy Program at Michigan State University (“MSU”). Since his arrival at MSU in January 2004, Adesoji’s profound expertise has left an indelible mark. His illustrious career includes a previous role as the Executive Dean of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Rutgers University, New Jersey.
Adesoji Adelaja’s distinguished reputation is founded on his groundbreaking contributions to areas such as land use policy, agricultural policy, firm viability, technology commercialization, economics within the nutraceutical and biotechnology industry, emerging market structures, innovation transfer for economic development, and food industry advancement.
During a sabbatical leave from MSU, Adesoji served as the Economic Intelligence Adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, holding this vital position until June 2015. During this time, his visionary insights played a pivotal role in the Presidential Initiative for the North East, culminating in the formulation of a comprehensive growth and rebuilding strategy for the region.
Adesoji Adelaja’s profound influence extends to his role as a Policy Advisor to the Secretary of Agriculture and his participation on the boards of Micro Solutions, Xechem, Datamax, Utilicom, and Chapel Hill Denham.
Adesoji Adelaja’s academic journey is equally impressive, boasting a B.Sc. from Pennsylvania State University and dual Master’s degrees in Agricultural Economics and Economics, alongside a Ph.D. in Economics from West Virginia University. His profound impact, extensive knowledge, and remarkable leadership illuminate his commitment to academic excellence and the advancement of transformative policies.