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THANK YOU

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THANK YOU

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  1. WELCOME ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, PROFESSOR ISAAC ADEBAYO ADEYEMI (FNIFST )AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 33RD ANNUAL CONFERENCE HELD ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2009 AT THE BANQUET HALL, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, YOLA, ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

  2. PROTOCOLS 1. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all and to give my Presidential address at this 33rd Annual Conference and General meeting. I feel highly honoured and I presume history is being made as the first NIFST President ever to give a Presidential Address in a State whose amiable Chief Executive is a Trustee of our great Institute. I want to place on record the immense contributions, support and motivation that NIFST had received over the years from His Excellency, Vice-Admiral MurtalaNyako(Rtd), the Executive Governor, Adamawa State, who has been one of our Trustees for over fifteen years.

  3. 2. It is also pertinent at this juncture, at least for the benefit of our guests and participants, to say that the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST), a body of professionals practising in various fields of the food industry, was established in 1976 and has a current membership strength of over 6,000. This membership is spread across all the geographical zones of the country. Our members who are experts in post harvest processing, preservation, packaging food research and development, food analysis, food microbiology, food biotechnology etc etc are in the academia, research, industry, government policy-making, regulatory establishments and private institutions.

  4. 3. Furthermore, NIFST has been quite active in marshalling the activities of operatives in the food sector. It is well recognized internationally through its affiliations with the International Union of Food Science and Technology, (IUFoST) and South African Union of Food Science and Technology (SAAFoST). Its several areas of intervention include continuing education programmes, enlightenment workshops, conferences and seminars, and contribution to the formulation and implementation of Government policies in the food sector. All these activities are aimed at ensuring national food security through various government policies such as the 7-Point Agenda of the present administration.

  5. 4. It is equally important to mention that an Annual Conference of this nature is avenue to review our achievements and challenges in the outgoing year. There is no doubt that the year under review (November 2008 to October 2009) has witnessed a lot of activities, some of which have enjoyed tremendous media attention and wide coverage. These include the workshops/seminars/meetings that have been successfully organized most especially the “Cassava: Adding Value to Africa” (C: AVA) Project. This project is sponsored by Bills and Melinda Gates Foundation through the Natural Resources Institute of the University of Greenwich, U.K. NIFST and other two principal partners: Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) and Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB) have made outstanding accomplishments in research. Each of the participating agencies has its own mandate. Your Excellencies, I am most delighted to inform this august gathering that NIFST has done excellently well. In fact, the impact of our training workshops on SMEs is now beginning to give hope to many whose investments in cassava appeared to have been lost.

  6. 5. Continuing further, in keeping with the tradition of the Institute, the Scientific and Training Committee had organized workshops resulting in increased revenue for the Institute. The relevance of the Institute in the quest for national food security through the above and o4her activities would be amplified by relevant Committees in their presentat)ons at the Annual General meeting coming up during the conference.. In addition, the Institute was able to successfully organize the Dr. J. K. LadipoBiennial Memorial Lecture in commemoration of the 15th year Anniversary f the demise of this outstanding and illustrious Nigerian whose fundamental work and inspired vision provided the foundation for NIFST.

  7. 6. On the international front, NIFST is gradually nurturing its “baby”, the West African Association of Food Science and Technology (WAAFoST). The Executive of the Association is now firmly on ground; with NIFST housing the temporary Secretariat of the regional body. I am pleased to inform this gathering that the Secretariat of WAAFoST would be permanently located in Abuja. This was formally approvedbyWAAFoST Executive CoUncil at its meeting held in Abidjan, C/te d’ IVohre between June 29 and July 2nd 209.In additIon, thE firs4 West AfrIcanFoodColgress, the first outing of the regional "o$y, has been scheduled f/r 17th – 19th May, 2010.

  8. 7. Your Excellency, distinguished guests and fellow NIFSTERS, nne of the challenoes facing the Institute cubrently is the issue of our Charter. The Bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Co5ncil of Food Science and Techjology and AlLied Professional Matters conNected therewith, 2009 (HB103) is an Executive ill sponsored by the Federal MiniStry of Science And Technology and supporTed by the F%deral Min)stry of Health. his Bill successfully passed through the PUblicH%aring stage i. the House of Representatives gn the 24th June, 2009. At this juncture, I wish to appreciata the eminent contributions of the Chairman, House ComMittee on Science and Technology, Hon. ABiodunAkinlade, and members of his Committee for the attention given to the BilL. We hope that without any further delay, the Bill would soon be presented and passed into Law. We wish, at this point to request for the assistance of our Trustee, His Excellency the Governor of Adamawa State together with other Excellencies or their Representatives here present to assist in sensitizing Senate for the commencement of the process for the discussion and subsequent approval of the Bill.

  9. We hope that without any further delay, the Bill would soon be presented and passed into Law. We wish, at this point to request for the assistance of our Trustee, His Excellency the Governor of Adamawa State together with other Excellencies or their Representatives here present to assist in sensitizing Senate for the commencement of the process for the discussion and subsequent approval of the Bill. The Council, the Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology (NCFST), when approved, will be vested with the appropriate mandate. It shall perform much critical complementary functions to NIFST, especially in the regulation of the practice and ethics of the profession, just like the existing Professional Councils.

  10. 8. Your Excellencies, our distinguished special guests, participants, distinguished fellows of the Institute present, fellow NIFSTERS, ladies and gentlemen, the theme of this year’s Conference:” Food Processing in the Semi-Arid Regions: Challenges and Possibilities” is germane to our attaining national food security. It is pertinent to consider the needs, potentials and developmental requests of each ecological zone towards the attainment of national food sufficiency. I therefore wish to highlight the following concerns as challenges to which solutions must be provided either in the short or long term:

  11. Development of sustainable technology to optimize the use of water for food production. This calls for consideration of maximum productivity per unit of water input through systems approach to water management and salinityThe issue of “food-grain-fuel conflict”, that is, competition in the use of land and water for food versus fuel production.Breeding (Plants and animals) for tolerance to heat, drought or saline conditions i.e environmental tolerant plants and animals.Development of innovative food systems through environment modifying structures which mediate temperature extremes and improve water use efficiency, especially for high value crops.Application of solar energy for food processing especially cottage food processors and home use.Reduction of high post-harvest food losses through appropriate food storage systems and processing technologies Food fortification for meeting the special nutrient needs within the region.

  12. 9. There is no doubt that this year’s conference would be unique, considering the fact that we have packaged an interactive session with Cottage Food Processors in order to identify with their challenges and proffer suggestions towards their amelioration. In this connection, I wish to appreciate the demonstrated concern of the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government, Hon. AbubakarMadawaki, for his personal interest and support of his Ministry for this interactive session. Your Excellency, the uniqueness of this occasion is further amplified in the fact that this is the first time NIFST would be celebrating the World Food Day with a State government! The programme is slated for Friday, 16th October – a debate to be moderated by His Excellency promises to be an interesting climax to the week long activity. The acceptance of His Excellency, our chief host, to be the Moderator is a clear testimony of his concern for issues that affect the development of grassroot economy and, an admission of the fact that SMEs are the engines of national economic growth. We equally appreciate the Honourable Commissioner of Agriculture, Hon. TijaniMaksha through whose Ministry the World Food Day is being celebrated here in Adamawa State.

  13. 10. Before concluding this address, I wish to appreciate my immediate predecessor in office, Mrs. OlusolaAdesokan, who has been a pillar of support. I also want to place on record the unflinching support of all members of Council for their dedication and contributions to the success of our activities. To all our active members, you are all wonderful. May almighty God bless you all.

  14. 11. Your Excellencies, most especially our Chief Host, our guests of honour; our special guests, fellow NIFSTERS, participants, ladies and gentlemen, I thank you all for your attention. I wish all of us a memorable conference – Yola 2009.

  15. THANK YOU God Bless You

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