Since 2007, Dr Yaya Olaniran has been Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the Rome-based Food Agencies of the United Nations. In October 2011 he was elected Chair of the Committee on World Food Security. Dr Olaniran has consulted for the African Development Bank, the World Bank and the private sector. He has worked in tree development, headed a science liaison office at ICIPE, Nairobi, and has served as Regional Minister for Agriculture in Ogun State, Nigeria.