POISON ON THE PLATE: SANNI, OPEOLU TO TACKLE NIGERIA’S FOOD SAFETY CRISIS

Professor Lateef Sanni, Executive Director of the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), and Professor Beatrice Olutoyin Opeolu, Professor Extraordinaire at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and Founder and Director of Bee Solutions & Consultancy Services, are set to bring complementary scientific expertise, international experience and professional leadership to the fifth edition of the ValidViewNetwork Monthly Global Discourse, as Nigeria confronts growing concerns over fake, adulterated and potentially unsafe food products.

The highly anticipated virtual discourse will hold on Sunday, October 25, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM West Africa Time, under the theme: “Poison on the Plate: Confronting Nigeria’s Epidemic of Fake and Adulterated Food Items.”

The discourse comes amid continuing concerns about food contamination, adulteration, unsafe processing and weaknesses in food handling and distribution.

The problem cuts across the food chain, from agricultural production and processing to storage, transportation, distribution and consumption.

With Prof. Sanni’s experience in food science, processing, preservation and post-harvest management complementing Prof. Opeolu’s expertise in environmental chemistry, toxicology and contaminant assessment, the programme will examine food safety from two interconnected scientific perspectives.

WHY PROF. SANNI MATTERS

Prof. Sanni is the current Executive Director of the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) and a Professor of Food Science and Technology.

He previously served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development, at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), and as National President of the FUNAAB Alumni Association.

His career has spanned more than three decades of research, teaching, institutional leadership and practical engagement with food production, processing, preservation, post-harvest management and food safety.

Prof. Sanni is a distinguished food scientist whose professional standing is reflected in an impressive array of fellowships. These include his election as a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences, induction into the International Academy of Food Science and Technology, and recognition as a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science.

He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology, a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria, an Honorary Fellow of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, and a Fellow of the Risks Managers Association of Nigeria.

He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science and Technology from the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, before earning his Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Food Technology from the University of Ibadan.

He became a professor in 2008.

His professional record includes extensive research into food processing, quality management, agricultural value chains and post-harvest technology.

His work has also involved international development organisations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

His expertise extends beyond university research into practical national food security and food safety interventions.

Under his leadership, NSPRI has pursued partnerships aimed at improving food production, preservation and safety.

In 2023, the institute entered into a partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture to advance technologies for food production, preservation and safety in Nigeria.

In 2024, NSPRI, under Prof. Sanni, hosted the inaugural Postharvest Connect Conference, drawing attention to post-harvest losses and food safety challenges in Nigeria.

His experience therefore places him at a critical intersection between the farm, the laboratory, the processing facility, the marketplace and the consumer.

He also embodies the fusion of academic excellence and community engagement, holding the traditional title of Mogaji of Olukunle Compound in Ibadan, Oyo State.

His profile reflects the versatility of a scholar who engages with leading scientists internationally while communicating complex scientific ideas in accessible language.

That combination of research, institutional leadership and practical experience makes his contribution particularly relevant to a discourse examining how food quality and safety can be protected across Nigeria’s food supply chain.

WHY PROF. OPEOLU MATTERS

Prof. Beatrice Olutoyin Opeolu is an environmental toxicologist and chemist whose academic, research and professional leadership experience spans nearly three decades.

She is currently a Professor Extraordinaire at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and the Founder and Director of Bee Solutions & Consultancy Services.

Her work focuses on the interaction between people and the environment, particularly the investigation of chemical contamination, potential health risks to humans and ecosystems, and approaches to remediating toxic substances.

Prof. Opeolu obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Management and Toxicology from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, in 1995.

She subsequently earned a Master of Science degree in Environmental Biology from the University of Ibadan in 2001 before obtaining her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Environmental Toxicology from FUNAAB in 2007.

Her academic career began at FUNAAB, where she served in teaching and research positions before moving to South Africa in 2008 for postdoctoral research at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).

She later held academic and research leadership positions at CPUT, where her work covered environmental chemistry, toxicology, water quality, pollution assessment and sustainability. She left the university’s employment in 2023 and retained an adjunct position until 2024.

Her current academic affiliation is UNISA, where she holds the position of Professor Extraordinaire.

Alongside her academic engagements, she leads Bee Solutions & Consultancy Services, a company established to connect scientific knowledge with practical solutions, consultancy, training and professional development.

Her professional journey reflects a combination of scientific research, entrepreneurship, mentorship and international leadership.

Prof. Opeolu has published more than 120 articles in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters and conference proceedings in environmental chemistry and environmental toxicology.

Her research interests include environmental monitoring, water quality, heavy metals, chemical contaminants and pollution management.

Her research is relevant to food safety because certain contaminants may enter food through environmental exposure, processing practices, storage conditions or other points along the supply chain.

Establishing the presence and potential danger of such substances requires appropriate scientific investigation, laboratory analysis and risk assessment.

Her published work has examined polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in processed meat products. These compounds are of scientific interest because some are associated with adverse health effects, depending on the specific compound and level of exposure.

Such research reinforces the importance of distinguishing between the detection of a contaminant and the assessment of the actual risk it poses. Sound conclusions require reliable measurements, relevant safety standards and evidence-based interpretation.

Her work therefore brings a valuable dimension to the discourse, helping to explain how chemical contaminants are investigated and how scientific findings can inform decisions about food safety and public health.

FROM AFRICAN SCIENTIFIC LEADERSHIP TO GLOBAL RECOGNITION

Beyond her research, Prof. Opeolu has made significant contributions to scientific leadership through the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC).

She is a former President of SETAC Africa and a former President of SETAC World. Her election as SETAC World President marked a historic milestone, making her the first African to hold the position since the organisation was established in 1979.

Her leadership reflects the growing contribution of African scientists to international environmental research, scientific collaboration and the development of solutions to environmental challenges.

She has also contributed to professional development, academic programme evaluation, scientific capacity building and the mentorship of researchers and environmental science practitioners.

Her professional recognition includes a National Research Foundation C3 rating in South Africa and the SETAC World Presidential Citation Award for Exceptional Service in 2015.

In 2023, she received recognition in the Trailblazer category of the inaugural Higher Education Women Leaders Awards organised by Higher Education Resource Services South Africa.

Through her work in academia, business and scientific organisations, Prof. Opeolu has continued to connect research with practical engagement and professional development.

Her participation in the fifth ValidViewNetwork Global Discourse will bring this breadth of experience to a national conversation about food safety.

TWO COMPLEMENTARY EXPERTS, ONE CRITICAL CONVERSATION

The participation of Professors Sanni and Opeolu provides an opportunity to examine food safety through two distinct but interconnected areas of expertise.

Prof. Sanni’s work focuses on food science, processing, preservation, quality management and post-harvest technology.

Prof. Opeolu’s expertise centres on environmental chemistry, toxicology, contamination and the scientific assessment of potential exposure risks.

Together, their perspectives can help explain how food quality is maintained, how contamination concerns are investigated and why credible scientific evidence must guide public decisions.

Their combined expertise is particularly relevant in a country where consumers, food businesses and regulators must navigate concerns about adulteration, unsafe handling, contamination and the reliability of food products in the marketplace.

The conversation will also consider the importance of laboratory testing, effective regulation, responsible food production and public education.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the objective is not simply to generate alarm, but to promote evidence-based public enlightenment and practical solutions that can strengthen Nigeria’s food safety system.

FROM FARM TO PLATE

The fifth ValidViewNetwork discourse will examine how unsafe food can move through the food chain and what can be done to stop it.

The discussion will address food processing, storage, preservation, transportation, product quality, consumer awareness, regulation and enforcement.

It will also examine the responsibilities of farmers, manufacturers, food traders, regulators and consumers.

The central challenge is to establish systems that prevent food safety failures, identify potential hazards and ensure that appropriate action follows credible scientific findings.

Food safety requires more than detecting problems after products have reached consumers. It demands prevention, effective monitoring, responsible business practices and the enforcement of established standards.

The discussants’ complementary expertise will help participants consider how scientific research and practical interventions can contribute to safer food systems.

The discussion will also distinguish established scientific evidence from claims that require further investigation. Not every suspicious-looking product is necessarily poisonous, and the absence of visible defects does not establish that food is safe.

Appropriate testing, sound risk assessment and credible information remain essential to protecting consumers.

FOURTH EDITION SET THE PACE

The fifth edition follows the successful fourth edition of the ValidViewNetwork Monthly Global Discourse, held on Sunday, September 27, 2026.

The fourth edition examined the theme: “The Lost Promise of 6-3-3-4: Can Nigeria Still Recover Its Technological Vision?”

It featured distinguished educationist and former UNESCO Permanent Delegate, Emeritus Professor Michael Abiola Omolewa, OON, alongside veteran journalist and public intellectual Chief Tola Adeniyi.

The discussion examined Nigeria’s educational vision, technical education, practical skills, teacher dignity, indigenous languages and the role of education in national development.

The fifth edition now moves the conversation from the classroom to the kitchen table, focusing on food safety, public health and the integrity of the food supply.

THE VALIDVIEWNETWORK VISION

The Monthly Global Discourse is an initiative of ValidViewNetwork Limited, founded by Associate Professor Kayode Ogunjobi, FHEA, FFAN.

The organisation operates around three principal pillars: Consultancy, Media and Advocacy, with a commitment to credible information, public enlightenment, responsible advocacy and meaningful engagement with issues affecting society.

Mr. Lanre Ogundipe, former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and former President of the African Union of Journalists, chairs the ValidViewNetwork Advisory Council.

Through its Monthly Global Discourse, ValidViewNetwork provides a platform for academics, professionals, policymakers, researchers, journalists and members of the public to examine important national and international issues through informed discussion.

The initiative seeks to connect knowledge with practical action while encouraging constructive engagement across professional and social boundaries.

STAKEHOLDERS URGED TO ATTEND

ValidViewNetwork is calling on Nigerians at home and abroad to participate in the fifth edition of the programme.

Farmers, food processors, manufacturers, distributors, market associations, retailers, regulators, health professionals, nutritionists, researchers, policymakers, consumer advocates, journalists, students, parents and community leaders are encouraged to attend.

Participants are also encouraged to invite friends, colleagues, family members, professional associations and other interested stakeholders.

Food safety affects every household, regardless of income, location or professional background.

Every consumer deserves access to safe food.

Every producer has a responsibility to protect consumers.

Every regulator has a duty to enforce applicable standards.

Every citizen has a role to play in demanding accountability.

THE CALL TO ACTION

The fifth edition of the ValidViewNetwork Monthly Global Discourse will provide a platform for examining the threats posed by fake and adulterated food products and identifying practical pathways towards a safer Nigerian food system.

With Prof. Lateef Sanni bringing his experience in food science, food preservation and institutional leadership, and Prof. Beatrice Opeolu complementing him with her expertise in environmental toxicology, chemistry and international scientific leadership, the programme will approach the subject from complementary perspectives.

Their participation offers an opportunity to move beyond general warnings and examine the evidence, systems and responsibilities required to protect consumers.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the battle for safer food cannot be won by regulators alone.

It requires scientists. It requires farmers.

It requires industry. It requires government.

It requires consumers.

And it requires an informed public that refuses to remain silent.

The food on the plate should nourish life, support healthy communities and strengthen national development.

Achieving that goal demands responsible production, effective regulation, credible science and sustained public engagement.

PROGRAMME DETAILS

Theme: Poison on the Plate: Confronting Nigeria’s Epidemic of Fake and Adulterated Food Items

Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026

Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM WAT

Venue: Virtual programme via Zoom

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE DISCOURSE ON ZOOM

ValidViewNetwork invites all stakeholders to join the conversation and contribute to the collective effort to make food safety a priority in Nigeria.

Protecting consumers requires credible science, responsible food production, effective regulation and sustained public engagement.