Dr Emmanuel Oluwakayode Ajayi ia a Nigerian born on 13th August, 1976. He has worked at the Teaching Service Commission of Ogun State, Nigeria as a Graduate Teacher from 2005-2008, then at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan as a Research Supervisor from 2008-2009 and presently, a Chief Research Officer at National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Idi-Ishin, Jericho, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. He obtained his Ph.D (Crop Physiology) in 2015; Master of Agriculture (M Agric) in Crop Production and Plant Physiology (2005) and Bachelor of Agriculture (B. Agric.) in 2001 from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. Dr Ajayi has skill in computer literacy (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, GENSTAT and SAS). He is a member of Horticultural Society of Nigeria (HORTSON) where he has served as National Coordinator of Fruits (2015 – 2017); Public Relation Officer (2017 – 2019); 1st Assistant Secretary (2019 -2021) and presently, he is the Secretary General of the society. Dr Ajayi has been involved in some research activities such as; African Union (AU)-WACCI Tomato project on development of tomato tolerant to Tuta absoluta in Nigeria. (2019 – 2021); Nigeria Tuta absoluta IPM Programme, National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT)/Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) collaborative project on containment of Tuta absoluta infestation on tomato in Nigeria. (2017 – 2018); National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT)/ CONSERVERIA AFRICANA Ltd collaborative varietal evaluation of tomato seeds for yield and adaptability in Nigeria. (2016 -2017); National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT)/SYNGENTA collaborative varietal evaluation of vegetable seeds for yield and adaptability in Nigeria. (2014 -2016); National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT)/WASA collaborative Hybrid vegetable evaluation project. (2009 -2011) and UNAAB/International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Collaborative Cowpea Research Project. (2002 – 2005). He has over fifty (50) publications in both local and international journals and conference proceedings. Dr Ajayi's extracurricular activities include:
- Reviewer, Journal of Agricultural Sciences. University of Belgrade, Serbia 2018 till date
- Reviewer, Manuscript submitted for proceeding of 36th Annual conference of Horticultural Society of Nigeria held at Nasarawa State University, Lafia 2018.
- Reviewer, Manuscript submitted for proceeding of 37th Annual conference of Horticultural Society of Nigeria held at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo. 2019.
- Reviewer, Manuscript submitted for proceeding of 39th Annual conference of Horticultural Society of Nigeria held at Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan. 2021.
- Supervision of student’s project from Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan; Ladaoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso; Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and Federal University of Technology, Akure. (National Diploma, Higher National Diploma, B Agric, M Agric and PhD students)
- General Secretary, Academic Staff Union of Research Institution (ASURI) National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) branch 2019 2022
- Public Relation Officer (PRO), Academic Staff Union of Research Institution (ASURI) National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) branch 2016 - 2019