A Professor of Food Science and Technology and the Dean, College of Food Science and Human Ecology (COLFHEC) of the University, Professor Lateef Sanni, has called for sustainable food security through efficient and appropriate drying mechanism and articulated agricultural revolution for increased value addition activities in the downstream agro-processing sub-sector, in order to achieve effective wealth generation and poverty eradication in the country.

Professor Sanni, while delivering the 49th Inaugural Lecture of the University titled, “Drying for Wealth, Food Security and Nation Building”, lamented that a country like Nigeria, which used to export food, now relied on importation to sustain itself because per capital food production remained almost stagnant, adding that the food security situation was critical, since a nation that cannot feed its citizens was far from attaining national stability and economy development. The Don defined wealth as the abundance of valuable resources or material possession as available to individuals, the community, region or country. He noted that the wealth generated by agro-industrial and manufacturing sectors of an economy could bring great fortunes, adding that the role of agriculture cannot be over-emphasized, since it constituted the main source of food for man, animals, raw materials for agro-based industries, as well as employment opportunities for the people.

Professor Sanni, who is the first alumnus of the University to deliver an Inaugural Lecture, observed that 842 million people in the world do not eat enough to stay healthy, meaning that one out of every eight people go to bed hungry. According to him, the world’s population was expected to reach 10.5 billion by 2050, thereby adding to the global food security concerns because of the need to increase food supply by 60 percent, noting that reduction of post-harvest food losses was very important in ensuring global food security.

The Dean of COLFHEC described Post-harvest Food Loss (PHL), as the measurable loss in quantity-physical weight, quality-nutritional quantity, caloric value, consumer acceptability and edibility that happened between the time of harvest and when it had reached the consumer. According to him, post-harvest food losses occurred more in developing countries than in the developed countries, because more research attention and resources had been devoted to increasing food production, resulting into about 95 percent of research investment going into food productivity, while just about 5 percent was geared towards reducing losses. He noted that inappropriate technology, poor or non-existent infrastructure, poor post-harvest handling and

lack of efficient value-addition chain were the major contributing factors to high food losses in developing countries, thus endangering the livelihoods of stakeholders across the value chain by reducing income and profit. Quoting the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), Professor Sanni disclosed that “on a global basis, an annual food loss along the production chain is put at a whopping figure of 1.3 billion tonnes”.

Professor Sanni, a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NISFT), who said his contribution to knowledge was in the area of development of appropriate processing, storage and quality regimes for upgrading of traditional local foods in Nigeria, observed that drying reduces water activity sufficiently to prevent bacterial growth which in turn, extends shelf life and microbial safety, reduces weight, making food easier to package, adding that sustainable drying and value additions would help to curtail post-harvest losses by guaranteeing food security and aiding nation building.

“Agriculture helps to contribute to nation building by providing food for the teeming population of the country. When output increases, the incomes of farmers increase, thereby leading to an increase in the standard of living. Similarly, agricultural development is of vital importance to nation building due to the fact that a rise in rural purchasing power as a result of the increase in the agricultural surplus is a great stimulus to industrial development and expansion in the size of the market”, he stated.

Professor Sanni, who is also the National President, FUNAAB Alumni Association, therefore, called for the rehabilitation of the existing 153 flash drying facilities produced by the Presidential Initiative on Cassava, create incentives to the private sectors to enhance greater competitiveness of agri-business which would affect regional change of food security. He made a case for the establishment of designated Ministry of Post-harvest System and strengthening the dynamics of Food Security Unit in the Presidency to actively collaborate with the Federal Ministries of Agriculture, Trade and Investment, Science and Technology. He also recommended the harmonization of agricultural-based project interventions with institutions, non-governmental organisations and developmental partners that will enhance innovations and research development. He added that government should block all ‘leaking pipes’ that could serve as catalyst in agricultural development, noting that if talent pipeline in African Drying Systems were nourished through integrated capacity building for students, fabricators, processors and trainers, then wealth and food security would be highly achieved.

The 49^th Inaugural Lecturer concluded his presentation by proposing that national agenda should focus on sustainable food security through efficient and appropriate drying mechanism. “Leadership instability is a bane to sustainable post-harvest system in Nigeria. There seems to be a serious disconnect from those initiatives. We need to sustain our collective resolve to solve agricultural problems. A major intervention to reduce post-harvest losses of agricultural commodities is drying. This Inaugural Lecture has shown us possible options in drying agricultural commodities. Appropriate drying systems will ensure efficient and profitable food value chain”, he further stated.

Speaking at the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole, said the 49^th Inaugural Lecture was the fifth from the Department of Food Science and Technology, third from the College of Food Science and Human Ecology (COLFHEC), the first to be presented by an alumnus of the University, as well as the 14^th he would preside-over as Vice-Chancellor.

The occasion was well attended by dignitaries from all walks of life. They include the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of FUNAAB, Senator/Sir (Dr.) Adeseye Ogunlewe; Pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and Librarian of FUNAAB, Professor Nurudeen Adedipe, Princess Adebisi Soboyejo, Dr. Taofiq Salisu respectively; the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Ayo Olubori; the General Overseer, Victory Life Bible Church, Apostle Lawrence Achudume and the Chief Imam of Egbaland, Alhaji Liadi Orunbolu among others.