Professor Babatunde Lambard Adetokunbo Fetuga was born on the 18th day of April 1945 at Calabar, Cross Rivers State. He was born to Richard Caxton Adekanbi of the famous Fetuga family of Ijebu-Ode and Princess Alice Offiong Obong from the Essien Ekpe Oku ruling house of Mbarakom, Creektown Calabar.

His early years were spent in Calabar where he attended Duke Town School, after standard four, Prof Babatunde Fetuga crossed over to Lagos Government School, Ebute-Elefun in Lagos Island to complete his primary education.

He gained admission into Kings College in January 1959 havingplaced 2nd in the National Common Entrance with a Full Government Scholarship through the seven years he was there. He left Kings College with a Grade 1 School Certificate in 1963 and a Higher School Certificate with Distinctions in 1965.

In July 1965, He had a working stint at Lagos Technical College, Surulere as a teacher of Chemistry, Biology and Physics. In September 1969, he proceeded to the University of Ibadan where he was admitted to study Agriculture with special honours in Agricultural Biochemistry and Nutrition. This admission came with a string of scholarships: The Elder Dempster Nigeria Independence Trust Award, a Federal Government Scholarship, Western Regional Scholarship and after his first year examination, won the college scholarship for the faculty.

He graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Agricultural Biochemistry and Nutrition.

After a six months work period with the Nigerian Breweries, he went back to the University of Ibadan for his Postgraduate work. Within a record breaking three years he took his PhD with commendation in November 1972.

A year later, he was confirmed Lecturer Grade 1 and subsequently promoted Senior Lecturer in 1975 He was promoted Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry in October 1977, at the age of 32. 

His academic activities at the University of Ibadan included supervising about 24 Ph.D. thesis and numerous Master’sDegree Projects. Six of his Post-Graduate students subsequently became Vice-Chancellor of various Universities (four in Nigeria and two in the Cameroon).

Between 1976 – 1977, he won the Full-Bright Travel Fellowship for Senior African Scholars which enabled him visit Cornell University, Ithaca, New York as visiting professor. During the period, he also visited the Department of Animal Science, University of Florida, Gainesville.

In July 1980, he was elected Dean of the University's Post-Graduate School. He introduced the training of graduates in professional disciplines such as Masters in Business Administration, Masters in Industrial and Labour Relations, Masters in Banking and Finance, Masters in Communication Arts, Masters in Urban and Regional Planning to mention just a few. These programmes caught on like wild fire and received massive support from the private sector particularly the Banking Sector.

As a reward from his effort, the Post-Graduate school honoured him with a Post-Graduate school prize for his effort in the growth and development of the Post-Graduate school. These humble beginnings have contributed to the current status of the University of Ibadan as the best destination for postgraduate studies in Nigeria.

His academic activities apart from earned degrees also led to the conferment of two fellowships; Fellow of Nigerian Society for Experimental Biology (FNSEB) and Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (FNIAS).

At age 38, Prof Babatunde Fetuga took a bow out of the academia and went to a short-term sabbatical appointment with Glaxo Nigeria Plc. as Nutritional and Agricultural adviser to the Managing Director.

About 4 months into his sabbatical, he was appointed General Manager, Nucleus Farm Products Limited, a subsidiary of Glaxo Nigeria Plc., a position he held for 2 years till he was brought into the mainstream company as General Manager, Business Development, Glaxo Nigeria Plc. He coordinated activities of product development experts, food chemists, marketing experts, marketing research and project management. A key product of this endeavour was the launching of Babeena, a baby milk cereal for infants from the age of four months. This was followed up with another product, Mameal.

Prof. Babatunde Fetuga retired into private business as an Agro-Industrial Consultant and undertook consultancy services for several companies, Federal Governments, State Governments and Private Businesses. Some of these include: 

He also sat on several boards 

At the local level, he took up a part-time assignment as the Executive Secretary of the Ijebu-Ode Development Board for poverty reduction whose office was at the Awujale's Palace and was instrumental to developing a master plan for small Agro-based Businesses with a view to reducing poverty in Ijebu-Ode and its environs. These efforts are today recognized in the entire country particularly its contribution to the development of Aquaculture in Ijebu-Ode that has become a fish market of choice in Nigeria. 

On the religious front, Prof. Babatunde Fetuga was born and baptized a Methodist at the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Calabar but confirmed as an Anglican at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina Lagos in 1962. A parishioner at the All Souls Anglican Church, Bodija, Ibadan up to 1984 where he was active in the Torch Bearers Society. On his return to Lagos, He went back to the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos where he continued to worship and served as Chairman of the Cathedral Torch Bearers from 2011 to 2013. In Ijebu-Ode, he worshipped at the Cathedral of Our Savior, Italowajoda where he belonged to two church societies; Egbe Ifelodun and Fountain of Hope 9NG.

He married his university sweetheart Aderonke Abimbola Fetuga nee Adenubi and they are Blessed with 3 beautiful children: Oyinkansola Adedoyin Olajumoke, Babajide Oluwafemi Adekanbi and Oluwagbemiga Adegboyega. He is also blessed with four grandchildren, Mosopefoluwa (first grandchild) who shares the same birthday 18th of April, Ayodeji, Anjolaoluwa and Mofetoluwa.

We praise Almighty God for the lofty heights attained and for enabling Prof. Babatunde Fetuga through his Grace, Mercy and Guidance to contribute to the Nigerian Educational System and the welfare of mankind.

May his gentle soul rest in Peace. Amen