Government to Issue Annual Licence To Food Scientists
The Nigerian government has expressed readiness to begin the issuing of Annual Practice License to certified Food Scientists in the country from January 2024.
The Minister of Innovation Science and Technoloy Uche Nnaji made this known while commissioning the Data Base management centre of the Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technoloy NiCFoST in Abuja the nation’s Capital.
The Minister also stated that direction has been given to the Registrar of NiCFoST to extend the enrolment window to February 2024 for free registration into the council by all qualified Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technoloy NIFST members.
“I wish to express my delight that registration of Food Science and Technology professionals as Certified Food Scientist of Nigeria has commenced. I recently signed some Certificates of Registration for the newly registered professionals.
May I use this opportunity to call on all Food Science and Food Technology professionals to take advantage provided the Establishment Act within the window to register with the Council immediately. I have also directed the Registrar to extend the enrolment window to February 2024 for free registration by all qualified NIFST members and to begin issuing an Annual Practice License for the registered professionals in January 2024” he said.
The Minister further said that the activities of NiCFoST will be stepped up immediately to enable it generate enough funds to run its activities as the budgetary funds of the council will cease from the 2026 financial year due to the Federal Government’s recent directives.
Mr Uche emphasized the need for Nigeria to adopt the global best practices in terms of food safety with the increase in the exportation of the country’s local foods.
“Indeed, Nigerian food is steadily becoming popular overseas and increasingly available at local shops. To optimize the benefits of these export market trends for our economic diversification quest, we must add value to local foods by following global best practices,” the Minister said.
The Minister stressed that the professional practice of food science and technology has become imperative as it is critical in providing adequate, safe, and nutritious food.
The Registrar/CEO of the Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technoloy NiCFoST, Mrs Veronica Ezeh said that the regulatory council which was established three years ago amidst the constraints of COVID 19 pandemic is saddled with the responsibilities of promoting professional best practices for food safety, prevent post-harvest losses, improve the competitiveness of Nigerian food products, promote export of Nigerian foods and contribute to the overall food security of the Nation.
She explained that the Database Management Centre Commissioned will serve as a Centre for storing, organizing and maintaining the data created and collated by NiCFoST in the course of carrying out its activities in line with the provisions of the Establishment Act.
“The activities include but not limited to registration of Food Science and Technology professionals, tracking and processing the data of food business locations where they work as well as securing the data centre networks and backup systems for disaster recovery.” She said.
The Registrar added that being the first established Council in the Sub-Saharan Africa for the regulation of practice and profession of Food Science and Technology, the council is determined to live up to its Vision.
Shakirat Sadiq
