The Federal Government says it has begun registration of food science and technology professionals as certified food scientists in the country.
The Minister of Innovation Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, stated this at the inauguration of the database Center of the Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology (NiCFoST) in Abuja on Tuesday.
“I recently signed some certificates of registration for the newly registered professionals.
“I use this opportunity to call on all food science and food technology professionals to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the Establishment Act within the window to register with the Council immediately.
“I have directed the Registrar to extend the enrollment window to February 2024 for free registration by all qualified NIFST members,” he said.
Nnaji said he also directed that an annual practice license for registered professionals be issued in January 2024.
The minister noted that Nigerian food was steadily becoming popular overseas and increasingly available at local shops.
He said that in order to optimize the benefits of these export market trends for economic diversification, value must be added to local foods by following global best practices.
To this end, he maintained that professional practice in food science and technology became necessary.
The minister said NiCFoST’s three short years of existence have secured the government’s approval to acquire the database management center.
According to him, the commissioning of the center is historic because it is the first time in Sub-Saharan Africa that the Food Science and Technology profession has a regulatory council.
He said: “As the focal government council responsible for regulating food science and technology professionals, NiCFoST will usher Nigeria into a new era of professional practice within the food industry and national supply system.
“This regulatory framework will be crucial in reducing unprofessional practices and mismanagement along the food value chains, optimizing health and economic benefits, and ensuring sustainable national food security.”
Nnaji also said reducing the risk of food insecurity now and in the future would require technological solutions and innovations.
He acknowledged that these tech solutions and innovations must be made acceptable to society through collaborative efforts across agriculture, food science and technology, nutrition, and health programs.
The minister said innovation, science, and technology would play a significant role in promoting wealth creation through food production.
The Registrar of NiCFoST, Mrs. Veronica Ezeh, assured that the council, in due course, would be promoting technology upgrades for deployment by practicing food scientists and technologists across Nigeria.
This, she said, was their way of contributing to food security, especially in terms of increased productivity of wholesome foods that would be accepted globally.
‘It is also a way to the much-desired economic diversification,” she said.
Ezeh said that as the foremost council in sub-Saharan Africa to regulate food science and technology practice, they were determined to live up to their vision.
She said that to achieve the vision and mandate of the Council, it was necessary for them to have adequate infrastructure to support its operations.
She further said the commissioning of the database management center was a demonstration of the enormous work, collaboration, and alliances that the Council had built over the past three years.
According to Ezeh, the efforts are to ensure the take-off and implementation of the Act, adding that NiCFoST was a regulatory council established three years ago to regulate the practice and profession of food science and technology in Nigeria.
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