Strategic Communication Professional, Motola Oyebanjo has been appointed Global Head of Communications at CIMMYT, a leading international agricultural research organisation working to strengthen food security and livelihoods across the Global South. With more than 1,500 staff operating in over 80 countries, the institution connects scientific research, policy, and farming communities to deliver agricultural innovation and resilience at scale.
In her new role, Motola will work alongside exceptional scientists, researchers, and professionals to strengthen the organization’s global positioning, deepen stakeholder engagement, and elevate the visibility of its contribution to resilient and sustainable food systems.
Announcing the appointment, she noted that she looks forward to building strategic partnerships that advance food security and economic opportunity, particularly in regions where the need is most critical.
Prior to her appointment, she was Senior Communications Director, Africa Region of Heifer International, where she led strategic communications, reputation management, stakeholder relations and brand architecture initiatives.
With more than two decades of experience spanning corporate communications, international development and brand storytelling, Motola has built a reputation for transforming complex corporate and institutional visions into compelling narratives that drive both social and business impact.
Her expertise sits at the intersection of high-level stakeholder engagement and multi-platform storytelling, enabling organisations to reach the right audience with the right message at the right time.
Over the course of her career, she has worked with a broad spectrum of global institutions and multinational corporations across sectors including development, finance, manufacturing, education and consumer goods. Her engagements include assignments with organisations such as United Nations Global Compact, Heifer International, British Council, Unilever, Union Bank of Nigeria and Lafarge Africa, among others.
Her career also span across advisory roles and consulting assignments for development and trade initiatives including the World Bank’s GEMS project and the Australian Trade Commission, further strengthening her experience at the intersection of global development and communications strategy.
Motola holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA in Media Leadership from University of Cumbria. She also completed executive training in sustainable business practices at Harvard Business School Online.
She is widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading strategic communications professionals, with her work spanning corporate reputation management, development communications and stakeholder engagement across Africa, Europe and the Middle East.