Mrs.
Mrs. Rukayat Abdussalaam is a Public Health and Nutritional Epidemiology researcher with dual Master’s training in Nutrition and Dietetics and Food Processing and Value Addition. Her research interests lie at the intersection of nutrition, food systems, and value-chain development, with a focus on understanding how these factors shape diet quality, nutrient intake, and micronutrient adequacy.
Her work integrates dietary assessment, nutrient profiling, food processing, and value-addition approaches within staple crop value chains. She is particularly interested in translating food and nutrition research into practical approaches that support improved food utilization, dietary quality, and nutrition outcomes. Her research also considers the role of local food systems and food environments in shaping access to and consumption of nutritious foods.
As an extension fellow, she engages in community-based research and knowledge translation, working with rural populations to translate research evidence into practical approaches that support improved food utilization, nutrition outcomes, and livelihood opportunities. Her work therefore connects public health nutrition with dietary behaviour, food environments, community nutrition, and food processing and value addition.
She has received academic recognition for her commitment to excellence, including the Carnegie Merit Award for Female Undergraduate Students, which she received on two occasions, and the University of Ife Muslim Graduate Association Merit Scholarship Award.
Through research, extension, and knowledge translation, she contributes to efforts aimed at improving nutrition and strengthening the role of food systems in supporting healthier communities. She is a member of several learned societies and has published in local and international journals.
i.) MSc. (Nutrition and Dietetics) 2024
ii.) M.AgSE (Food Processing and Value Addition) 2018
iii) Bachelor of Science (Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics) 2012
iv.) West African School Certificate 2005
v.) First School Leaving Certificate 1999
Behavioural risk factors for diet-related non-communicable diseases; Food systems, food environments and nutrition outcomes
i.) Carnegie Merit Award for Female Undergraduates’ student. 2011
ii.) University of Ife Muslim Graduate Association (UNIFEMGA) Merit Scholarship 2011
iii.) Carnegie Merit Award for Female Undergraduates’ student 2010
i.) Member, College Board of Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre, FUNAAB 2025 to date
ii.)Member, Board of Examiners, College of Food and Human Ecology 2025 to date
iii.) AMREC Representative on COLCOMPS’ Promotion Assessment Panel 2025 to date
iv.) AMREC Representative on BIOTECH Board 2025 to date
v.)Member, College Board of the College of Food and Human Ecology 2023 to 2025
Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN)
Institute for Dietetics in Nigeria (IDN)
Nigerian Women in Agricultural Research for Development (NiWARD)
Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)
(i) 54th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Kano, 2024.
(ii) 53rd Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Abuja, 2023.
(iii) 52nd Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Abeokuta, 2022.
(iv) 2021 Annual National Conference of the Institute for Dietetics in Nigeria at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State. 18th – 21st October, 2021.
i. Adepoju, A.B., Ademiluyi, D.D., Oyewunmi, B.T., Animasahun, M.O., Salaudeen, O.A., and Abdussalaam, R.O. (2026). Nutritional Status and Functional Capacity of Physically Challenged Adolescents attending School of Students with Special Needs in Ilaro, Nigeria. World Nutrition, 17(2), 80-93. Published by the World Public Health Nutrition Association.
ii. Sanni-Bamigbade, S.A., Kareem I.A.., and Abdussalaam, R.O. (2026). Effect of Sales Promotion on Brand Loyalty: Evidence from the Powdered Milk Segment in Lagos State, Nigeria
iii. Popoola, B. O., Abdussalaam, R. O., Sanni, S. A., Onabanjo, O. O., & Shittu, T. A. (2026). Nutrient Intake Adequacy and Anthropometric Characteristics of In-school Female Adolescent in Abeokuta-South Local Government Area, Ogun State. Nigerian Journal of Nutritional Sciences, 47(1), 90-100.
iv. Abdussalaam, R. O., Ranti-Oni, O. E., & Abdulsalam, B. O. (2025). Assessment of Attitudes and Perceptions of Sustainable Nutrition Practices Among Students in Selected Tertiary Institutions in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. Fudma Journal 0f Sciences, 9(8), 111-116.
v. Abdussalaam, R. O., Afolabi, W. A., Onabanjo, O. O., & Alarima, C. I. (2024). Smoking behaviour, alcohol intake and depressive symptoms among adolescents attending public secondary schools in Abeokuta, Southwest Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Nutritional Sciences, 45(1), 81-90.
vi. Abdussalaam, R. O., Afolabi, W. A., Onabanjo, O. O., Alarima, C. I., & Popoola, B. (2024). Diet quality of in-school adolescents in Abeokuta, Nigeria based on the diet quality index–international: A cross-sectional study. World Nutrition, 15(4), 21-29.
vii. *Oke, F. O., Adekunle, C. P., Akerele, D., Afolayan, S. O., Bamigbade-Sanni, S. A., & Abdussalaam, R. O. (2024). Determinants of food safety practice and knowledge level among food vendors in Ado-odo/Ota Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Nutritional Sciences, 45(1), 62-71. Published by the Nutrition Society of Nigeria.
viii. Abdussalaam, R.O., Sanni, L.O., Adebowale, A.A., Oluwatosin, B.O. and Omohimi, C.I. (2021): Some Quality Attributes of Soft Cheese as Affected by Milk Type and Coagulants. Nigerian Food Journal 39 (2), 78 – 94. Published by the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST).
ix. Odeseye A.A., Awonorin, S.O., Abdussalaam, R.O., Sanni, L.O. and Olayanju, T.M.A. (2020): Effect of Processing Variables on the Biscuit Making Potentials of Cocoyam-Brewer Spent Grain Flour Blends. Croatian Journal of Food Science and Tech. 12 (1), 56 – 66. Published by the Faculty of Food Technology, University of Osijek, Croatia.
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