FUNAAB VC Tasks FOSAN to Sustain Food Safety Advocacy

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Professor Babatunde Kehinde, has charged the Food Safety Ambassadors of Nigeria (FOSAN) to sustain its contributions to food safety advocacy and ensure that its impact continues to reach more people in society.

Kehinde gave the charge on 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.

The Vice-Chancellor emphasised the importance of food safety, particularly within the University community, which has a population of more than 27,000 students.

He described the training as essential to promoting safe food practices within the University and beyond.

Kehinde also encouraged individuals who were 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, Professor Folake Henshaw, disclosed that the Food Safety Capacity Building Programme began in 2015 following a collaboration between FUNAAB and two international institutions.

Henshaw, a former Dean of the 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.

She stressed the importance of prevention, noting that prevention was better than cure.

She explained that the programme, which is a West African regional initiative, led to the establishment of FOSAN.

Henshaw said she ran the initiative alongside the current Dean of COLFHEC, Professor Adebukunola Omemu, who was a co-founding member and currently serves as a Board Member of the organisation.

She appreciated the support of the Vice-Chancellor, noting that the 2026 edition marked the first time in the history of the programme that students were trained and certified as ambassadors alongside food vendors operating within the University, with support from the University Management.

In her remarks, Professor Omemu said the programme was not solely focused on training food vendors but also on teaching and imparting knowledge.

She appreciated the Vice-Chancellor for his support and commended the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Professor Felix Kolawole Salako, for his support and continued sponsorship of staff to participate in the training programmes.

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 University Management for sustaining the initiative.

The former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development, Professor Lateef Sanni, who is also the Executive Director of the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), expressed satisfaction that the programme was still thriving.

Sanni noted that initiatives of such nature could contribute to the University’s global rankings.

The high point of the ceremony was the conferment of the FOSAN Ambassador title on the Vice-Chancellor, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor and the Executive Director of NSPRI.