‘Wole is the Senior Technical Cluster leader/ Innovation Systems and Partnerships specialist in FARA. He holds a doctorate in farming Systems Agronomy from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.  He leads the strategic development and implementation of various research and development initiatives and, erstwhile, the Sub-Saharan Africa Challenge Program (SSA CP), credited with the development and proof of the Innovation Platform as a veritable instrument for achieving quick impact from research outcomes. Before joining FARA,  ‘Wole worked; at the Agricultural and Rural Development Research Institute (ARDRI), University of Fort Hare, South Africa, as a researcher/ lecturer; at the Total Development International Foundation (TODEV) as Program Manager, at the ARATI Environmental Limited as a soil fertility management expert; at the Savannah Sugar Company limited, Adamawa, as a field agronomist, and at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan (as a Visiting Research Fellow). He has over 20 years of professional work experience (post qualification) utilizing broad skills in agricultural research and development. He holds leadership positions in steering committees of some continental initiatives, where he contributes to developing strategic pathways and policy issues. He is also vast in facilitating intercontinental partnerships for Africa’s agricultural research and development. All these are coupled with his progressive University teaching and graduate mentorship work. He has facilitated many training sessions on the agricultural-related subject and has mentored over 16 postgraduate scholars at MSc, MPhil, Ph.D. levels, and post-doctoral levels; he is an adjunct Professor of Agricultural Innovation Systems at the University of Forth Hare, South Africa. ‘Wole is well lettered with over 120 referred publications to his credit.
 

Dr. Manu is Professor Emeritus and George Washington Carver Endowed Chair in the Agronomy Department of Iowa State University (ISU).
Dr. Manu is a renowned teacher at ISU who provided instruction in five soil science and natural resource management courses. He developed hybrid, student-centered classes, which permitted the teaching of almost 400 students per year on campus, and 40 non- campus-based students virtually. This instructional system suited students with different learning styles and preferences. This innovative approach won him national and international awards. These included the James H. Ellis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Introductory Teaching at ISU in 2009, the Soil Science Education Award of the American Society of Agronomy in 2011, and the Agronomic Residence Education Award of the American Society of Agronomy in 2015.
Dr. Manu undertakes research in the areas of environmental pedology and remote sensing. His research foci are in remote sensing of the environment, digital soil mapping, urban modeling, and investigation of the effect of urbanization on environmental quality. He developed the "low Altitude Remote Sensing Research Initiative" (LARSRI) at ISU, promoting the use of drones for agricultural research. Dr. Manu has published 42 refereed Journal articles, two book chapters, and 35 peer-refereed proceeding articles.
Dr. Manu has developed a reputation for his expertise in restoring and managing tropical lands for their use in improved farming systems. He has worked closely with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Centers, NARS, international donor agencies, African universities, and non-governmental agencies to identify appropriate farming system technologies. He produced extension bulletins and other educational material for smallholder farmers in Africa.
He is a founding member and served as President of the Association of African Agricultural Professionals in the Diaspora (AAAPD). The association's mission is to stimulate the dormant force of African professionals in the Diaspora and direct their vast human resources toward Africa's agricultural development.