SANWO, Otunba (Dr.) SEBASTIAN KEHINDE

Otunba (Dr.) Sebastian Kehinde Sanwo was born on February 8, 1947 to Pa Joseph Onobanjo Sanwo of Iwasi, Ijebu Imusin, and Chief Mrs. Catherine Sanwo of Itasin Imobi, both in Ijebu East Local Government. He started his primary education at St. Patrick’s Primary School, Oke Padre, Ibadan, Oyo State (1952-1959), and proceeded to Loyola College, Ibadan, from 1960 to 1964.

His insatiable appetite for education saw him go further to acquire the following certificates:

1. Forestry Assistant Certificate (OND equivalent), Federal School of Forestry, Jericho, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria (1965-1967).
2. Diploma in Forestry (HND equivalent), Federal School of Forestry, Jericho, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria (1967-1968).
3. Diploma in Advance Wood Technology; Associate Member, Institute of Wood Science, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria (1968-1971).
4. Buckinghamshire College of Technology and Art, High Wycombe Bucks, England (1968-1971).
5. B. Sc. (Hons) Forestry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria (1972-1974).
6. Certificate in Manufacture of Wood Based Panels in the Tropics (FTP), Vocational Training Centre, Kotka, Finland (1976).
7. Certificate in Logging and Log Transport for African Countries. Pohjios-Savo Forestry School, Toivala, Finland (1977).
8. Certificate in Ergonomics, International Agricultural Centre, Wageningen, the Netherlands (1982).
9. PhD (Forestry Wood Science and Technology) University College of North Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales, U.K. (1977-1983).
10. Certificate in Operational Efficiency, Work Study and Ergonomics in Forestry FTP, Finland/ILO/IUFRO, Training School Arusa, Tanzania (1986)

Dr. Sanwo worked in different organisations and in various capacities as follows: Forest Assistant, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resource Oyo State, Nigeria; Forest Assistant, Gambari Forest Reserve Idi-Ayunre, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria (where he planted most of the teak trees along the Ijebu-Ode – Ibadan Express Road); Consultant to United Nations on Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, (1990-1993); Lecturer, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State (1974-1990). He is on a contract appointment (2000 till date) at the College of Agricultural Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ayetoro, Ogun State, Nigeria. 

Otunba (Dr.) S. K. Sanwo, as a strong community leader in Iwasi, Ijebu Imusin, was honoured in the year 2003 by Oba Stephen Adedeji Onafowokan with the title of ‘Otunba Obamuwagun’ of Ijebu Imusin. Shortly after, Otunba Dr. Sanwo staged the first Iwasi day celebrations which resulted in the installation of Baale of Iwasi, Chief J. O. Banjo and other chiefs in the village, including retired Captain A. Orekoya, the Jagunmolu of Iwasi. He successfully staged the second and third Iwasi day celebrations, and has contributed immensely to electrification of the village and its environs.   

He continued his community work in developing numerous youths in Ijebu Imusin by assisting them in furthering their education in universities and awarding scholarships at various levels. Otunba (Dr.) Sanwo is currently working on how to install pipe-borne water at Iwasi Village.