Emmanuel Ojo selected for prestigious AIARD Future Leaders Forum Fellowship

By Tosin Clegg

Emmanuel Ojo, a rising scholar in the Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education at Virginia Tech, has added another feather to his cap after being selected for the highly competitive Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD) Future Leaders Forum Fellowship 2025.

His selection marks an important milestone in his academic journey and reflects his growing influence in global agricultural development and rural transformation.

The AIARD Future Leaders Forum (FLF) is one of the most sought-after fellowship programs for young professionals aspiring to shape the future of agriculture and rural development on an international scale.

Through an intensive and competitive process, participants are chosen for their leadership potential, academic distinction, and the relevance of their research to the challenges facing global food systems. Ojo’s inclusion in this year’s cohort speaks volumes about his commitment to bridging research, community development, and policy innovation.

At the recent annual AIARD conference, Ojo showcased his groundbreaking research through a poster presentation titled “From Conflict to Cohesion: Community Voices on Peacebuilding Initiatives in the Context of Farmer-Herder Conflict in Northern Nigeria.”

The research, conducted under the guidance of his advisor, Professor Van Crowder, and with input from committee member Dr. Austen Moore of Catholic Relief Services, explores one of Nigeria’s most pressing development challenges—farmer-herder conflicts.

His study captures grassroots narratives and illuminates pathways for conflict transformation in agricultural communities, offering evidence-based strategies for peacebuilding, social cohesion, and food system resilience.

Ojo’s work is not only academically rigorous but also deeply practical, highlighting his ability to merge theory with real-world application. By centering community voices, he challenges top-down approaches and champions participatory models of agricultural leadership and rural development.

Beyond his poster presentation, Ojo’s participation in the AIARD Future Leaders Forum provides him with opportunities to engage in critical discussions on the future of global agriculture.

The program enables fellows to interact with senior policymakers, practitioners, and researchers, giving them a platform to contribute ideas on food security, sustainable farming systems, and community resilience in low- and middle-income countries. For Ojo, this represents a chance to expand his reach while bringing perspectives from Nigeria and Africa into global conversations.

The selection of Ojo also reflects the Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education at Virginia Tech’s growing commitment to nurturing globally minded leaders.

His faculty mentors expressed pride in his achievement, noting that his work exemplifies the department’s vision of producing graduates who can think critically, lead effectively, and drive positive change in diverse agricultural and rural settings.

While Ojo’s latest honor is significant, it is by no means his first achievement.

Over the course of his academic and professional career, he has consistently demonstrated a passion for conflict resolution, agricultural leadership, and sustainable rural development.

His research interests bridge social science and agricultural policy, focusing on how inclusive dialogue and community-driven strategies can resolve conflicts, reduce vulnerabilities, and promote development.

By securing this fellowship, Ojo joins a distinguished network of AIARD alumni who have gone on to shape agricultural development policy at national and international levels.

The fellowship is widely regarded as a training ground for future leaders who will tackle urgent challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, migration, and rural poverty.

For Ojo, it is both a recognition of his past work and an investment in his potential to contribute meaningfully to global solutions.

The farmer-herder conflict in Nigeria, the focus of Ojo’s research, has been one of the country’s most intractable crises, with far-reaching consequences for food production, security, and livelihoods.

His approach, listening directly to the lived experiences of affected communities, offers a fresh and human-centered perspective. By emphasizing dialogue, peacebuilding initiatives, and cohesion, he provides pathways for policymakers, NGOs, and development practitioners to design interventions that are not only effective but also culturally resonant.

His advisor, Professor Van Crowder, noted that Emmanuel embodies the qualities of a scholar committed to both excellence and impact.

Dr. Austen Moore of Catholic Relief Services, who also supported the project, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that Emmanuel’s research speaks to the urgent need for solutions that integrate peacebuilding with agricultural development.

As Emmanuel Ojo steps into his role as an AIARD Future Leaders Forum fellow, he carries with him the responsibility and privilege of representing not only Virginia Tech but also the broader African academic and professional community.

His voice adds to the diversity of perspectives shaping international agricultural development, and his work stands as proof that young researchers can indeed drive innovation in solving complex global challenges.