Last Updated on September 24, 2026 by Olasunkanmi Olajide
… As Food Safety Capacity Building Programme Opens in FUNAAB
By David Johnson
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, has charged the Food Safety Ambassadors of Nigeria (FOSAN) to sustain its contributions to food safety advocacy and ensure that its impact is increasingly felt in society.
The Vice-Chancellor gave the charge today, September 23, 2026, at the Opening Ceremony of the Food Safety Capacity Building Programme for Food Vendors and Handlers, held at the Chief Anthony Anenih Multipurpose Hall, FUNAAB.
Prof. Kehinde emphasised the importance of food safety, particularly within the University Community with a population of over 27,000 students, describing the training as essential to promoting safe food practices on campus and beyond.
He encouraged those yet to undergo the training and certification to take full advantage of the opportunity, before declaring the programme open.
Earlier, the Convener and Founder of FOSAN, Prof. Folake Henshaw, disclosed that the Food Safety Capacity Building Programme began in 2015, following a collaboration between FUNAAB and two international institutions.
Prof. Henshaw, a former Dean, College of Food Science and Human Ecology (COLFHEC), noted that food safety remained a major national concern, with unsafe food still prevalent in the environment, stressing that prevention was better than cure. She explained that the programme, being a West African regional initiative, led to the establishment of FOSAN, which she ran alongside the current Dean of COLFHEC, Prof. Adebukunola Omemu, a co-founding member and current Board Member of the organisation.
She appreciated the support of the Vice-Chancellor, noting that the 2026 edition marked the first time in the programme’s history that students were trained and certified as ambassadors, alongside food vendors operating within the University, with support from the Management.
In her remarks, Prof. Omemu said the programme was not solely about training food vendors, but also about teaching and imparting knowledge. She appreciated the Vice-Chancellor for his support and commended the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Felix Kolawole Salako, for his support and continued sponsorship of staff to participate in the training programmes.
Prof. Salako, who is the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, expressed delight at the continued existence of the programme, noting that its sustainability represented a continuation of the legacy established during his tenure. He recalled approving the establishment of FOSAN and the Food Safety Capacity Building Programme for food vendors and handlers, while appreciating the current Management for sustaining the initiative.
The former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Lateef Sanni, who is also the Executive Director, Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), expressed satisfaction that the programme was still thriving, noting that initiatives of such nature could contribute to the University’s global rankings.
Highpoint of the ceremony was the conferment of the FOSAN Ambassador on the Vice-Chancellor, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, and the Executive Director, NSPRI.
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