The chair of Olds College's Centre for Innovation will be leaving the college by the end of November to take up a posting with the Organization of American States (OAS) in Suriname, South America.
Abimbola Abiola will be Canada's representative for the organization's Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture for two years. Canada is the second largest contributor to the institute of the 34 countries that are part of the OAS. The institute functions as the agricultural arm of the United Nations.
Abiola said as a result of previous work with the institute, he was contacted to fill the position and thought it would be a good opportunity. He did that work on an as-needed basis while at the college.
He will primarily be advising and providing technical support on agriculture to the member countries that are part of the organization. The position is meant to provide assistance with food security throughout the hemisphere, from Canada's northern reaches to the southern tip of Argentina.
The institute also works to advance agricultural innovation.
“I was contacted when the position was available and I've been working on many international projects. I've worked for this organization in the past as a scientific advisor. In addition to serving Canada or serving Olds or Olds College, you're given an opportunity to serve the world. That is the way I look at it,” he said.
Abiola said while the position is initially for two years, it could be extended. At the end of the position, he plans on returning to Olds.
