FUTA Hosts 2026 Food Week, Spotlighting Gen Z Skills in Food Science and AI

The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), through the Nigerian Association of Food Science and Technology Students (NAFSTS) FUTA chapter, successfully hosted its 2026 Food Week from February 9–13, 2026, under the theme: “Food Science and AI Revolution: Skills Gen Z Need to Succeed.”

The week-long programme brought together students, faculty, and food enthusiasts to celebrate culinary diversity, explore emerging trends, and foster practical learning. Activities included food exhibitions, cooking demonstrations, interactive workshops, sports day, costume/awareness day, a cooking competition, and an introductory field experience. The symposium, a key feature, was held on February 10, 2026.

In her welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Sunday Oluyamo, congratulated the NAFSTS FUTA chapter for organizing a successful programme. She praised the Department of Food Science and Technology for preparing students to fully engage in the week’s activities and encouraged participants to learn from different culinary cultures.

Delivering an interactive lecture titled “What Comes After School: Lessons, Choices and Preparation”, Mr. Oluwasegun Odugbemi, Supply Chain Quality Manager at Nestlé Nigeria PLC, reminded students that graduation is a starting point, not a finish line. He emphasized that a degree provides a foundation, but career success is determined by skills, character, and deliberate learning. Highlighting the versatility of Food Science, he explained that graduates can thrive in areas such as research and development, quality assurance and food safety, supply chain operations, regulatory affairs, sustainability, AI-driven manufacturing, sales, marketing, and entrepreneurship. He urged students not to wait for permission to dream big and reaffirmed that success has multiple definitions.

Earlier, the Head of Department, Prof. Oluwafunmilayo Omoba, noted that this year’s Food Week is historic as it coincides with the 25th anniversary of NAFSTS FUTA chapter. She highlighted how AI and digital technologies are transforming food production, processing, quality assurance, and sustainability. She further explained that Food Weeks provide a vital platform for dialogue, industry engagement, and collaboration, bridging classroom knowledge with practical application while fostering innovation, food security, and sustainable development.

The FUTA 2026 Food Week successfully demonstrated how academic learning, industry insights, and emerging technologies can converge to equip the next generation of food scientists with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving sector.