***Utilize plant based foods through informed processing
To reduce foreign exchange pressures as well as promote local content, President Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) Professor Joseph Abu has urged asked the Federal Government to replace imported wheat flour with locally produced flour sources at the appropriate optimal levels for various wheat-based products like bread and cakes
Prof Abu who gave the indication recently when he delivered the 47th Inaugural Lecture of Jiseph Sarwaun Tarka University, Makurdi (Firmer University of Agriculture Makurdi) also urged the Federal Government to promote the utilization of plant based foods through informed processing to minimize or eliminate antinutrients, enhance nutrition and promote health.
The lecture which centered on Prof. Abu’s contributions to the field of Food Science and Technology together with his students efforts also emphasized the need to promoted general value addition to plant-based foods so as to enhance their safety.
He explained the complexities of plant food resources through the application of low to high technology processing for various purposes saying the target ultimately is to ensure the provision of wholesome, safe, affordable and adequate nutrition of the masses.
“Compared to animal food products, not only are plant-based foods more environmentally friendly to produce, they are less capital intensive to invest in.
“However, plant-based foods are non-uniform and complex in nature, requiring diligent understanding of their intricacies, functionalities as well as application of appropriate processing technologies for their optimal utilization for food and nutrition security.
“Plant-based foods remain the most affordable and healthy option for majority of people living in the developing regions of the globe.
“As no single plant-based food is rich in all essential nutrients (macro and micro), consumption of multiple plant-based foods at any given meal time rather than just one, is expedient as this guarantees compensation for nutrient shortcomings.”
This he said is critical for proper and adequate nutrition of the populace.
Professor Abu also urged the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency inaugurate and fund the Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology (NiCFoST) signed into law since October, 2019 but yet to be inaugurated to enable proper regulation of the practice and profession of Food Science and Technology.
As a follow up to that, he urged the Federal Government to adequately equip and create a Centre to run the pilot plant and postgraduate laboratories as well as the biscuit and confectionery factory to function as is the case in Makerere University and elsewhere.
He said it is expedient to complete abandoned projects such as the auditorium at College of Food Technology & Human Ecology (CFTHE), sports facilities, burnt down structures around staff quarters.
For more improvement in academics he said there should be consistency in the enforcement to employ first class graduates in their respective Departments.
The professor of Food Science and Technology said deployment of credible and steady ICT in all spheres of the University administration including fees, transcripts, registration, examination computation and library services is very crucial
He asked that funds be provided as publication subsidy for academic publications in credible, approved peer-reviewed journals for academics in partnership with development partners such as TETFund.
Prof. Joseph Oneh Abu is from Aiugbe, Otukpa, Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State but was born in Otukpo, Benue State on 3rd April, 1970.
He attended Central Primary School and St. Francis College, both in Otukpo, Benue State. Prof. Abu obtained the BSc (Second Class, Upper Division) and MSc degrees in Food Science and Technology, from the University of Agriculture, Makurdi (UAM).
In 2005, he earned a PhD in Food Science from the University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa courtesy of a DAAD, Germany scholarship and study leave from UAM.
He was a postdoctoral Fellow at Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa between 2006 and 2008 as well as a visiting Scientist at Fraunhofer, IVV, Freising, Germany in 2003.
Prof. Abu joined the services of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria over 30 years ago as Graduate Assistant and rose through the ranks to the rank of Professor in 2014. He has published research articles in several peer-reviewed academic journals in Nigeria and beyond.
