Tuesday, 25th of April, 2023 marks the beginning of a milestone and a tenure committed to the hands of the Almighty God in the life of Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), Ilorin as Prof Lateef Sanni assumed office in his capacity as the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the institute.
As the learned Professor landed in Ilorin to take up the mantle of leadership in his new post, observers believed that it is the beginning of great things in the institute as he will bring his wealth of experience and spartan discipline and leadership acumen to bear on the institute.
Prof Lateef Sanni was deeply honoured and humbled by the dignity of the office, he holds.
While, being welcome to the institute, he assured the staff and stakeholders that, he shall uphold the highest traditions of the exalted position, and will work for the principles that are sacred to research, development and core values of the institute.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, through the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), had appointed Professor Lateef Oladimeji Sanni, as the new Executive Director of the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), Ilorin.
Professor Sanni replaces Dr Patricia Pessu, who retired from service on the 14th of April, 2023.
Earlier, the newly appointed Executive Director for Nigerian Stored Product Research Institute (NSPRI), Ilorin, Prof. Lateef Sanni had appreciated the Federal Government of Nigeria over his appointment as the Executive Director for Nigerian Stored Product Research Institute in Ilorin.
Prof. Sanni also extended his gratitude to the Almighty God for the opportunity.
According to him, “There is the need for one to sustain one’s excellence, integrity, and productivity. And I will make sure that I work together with other team players in solving some of the sustainable development goals and by God’s grace, success is ours.”
Prof. Sanni is a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology, Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria, and President, of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops.
Prof. Lateef Oladimeji Sanni until his appointment was the former Head of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Station in Abuja and Project Manager for Building an Economically Sustainable, Integrated Cassava Seeds System Phase II (BASICS II).
He is the Chairman, of the Steering Committee of African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD).
Prof. Sanni has over thirty years of experience in research, consultancy, and collaborations as a post-harvest expert on tropical roots crops mostly implemented by the Natural Resources Institute, United Kingdom, Association of African Universities, Council of Agricultural Research Forum, West and Central Council for Agricultural Development and International Institute of Tropical Root Crop with over seventy overseas trips to six continents.
Prof. Sanni graduated from the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta with a Bachelor of Science degree; Second Class Upper Division in the Department of Food Science and Technology in 1990.
He obtained Masters’s and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degrees at the Department of Food Technology, University of Ibadan in February 1993 and April 1999 respectively.
The distinguished Prof. Sanni received Harvard Business School, Boston, USA training on Leading Change and Organizational Renewal from 17th to 22nd March 2013.
Prof. Sanni joined the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB), now FUNAAB in 1993 as an Assistant Lecturer and became Professor of Food Science and Technology in 2008.
As a distinguished scholar, Prof. Sanni has published over 109 Technical Journal articles; 30 Books, and 30 Conference proceedings.
He has supervised in collaboration with colleagues well over 100 undergraduates, 17 Masters and 24 PhD students.Prof. Sanni is globally cited with 3,809..
He successfully served as the Country Manager for Nigeria in a Five-Country project, Cassava: Adding Value for Africa II (CAVA and CAVA II) projects sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation from 2008 to March 31, 2019.
Professor Lateef Sanni won the World Bank Facility for Academic Staff of Universities to the Natural Resources Institute, Kent, UK in 1995.
The International Foundation for Science, Sweden, launched Prof. Sanni Lateef as a leading contributor to multi-million dollar projects on cassava since 1999.
The erudite Professor was the leader (of Food Processing and Value Addition), Center of Excellence in Agriculture and sustainable environment in 2013 for the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
Prof. Lateef served as the Resource Person, World Bank Sponsored project titled “Upscaling the Nigerian Flash Drying Experience for Sustainable Regional Trade and Income Generation in West Africa”(Ghana, Benin Republic, Sierra Leone, Nigeria).
He also served as the Country Manager for the European Union-African Caribbean Pacific (EU-ACP) Science Technology Capacity Building Project, Nov 2009 to October 2012 in collaboration with the Greenwich University/Natural Resources Institute, Chatham.
His wealth of experience made him serve as Project Coordinator, Cassava Value Chain Development project in West Africa, covering Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Benin Republic; a three-year project, sponsored by the Common Fund for Commodities from August 2008 to March 2012 and implemented by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, (IITA) Ibadan, Nigeria.
Prof. Sanni has won several awards, some of which include; the 2008 Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Award, Regional Technology Development in Sub-Saharan Africa, Outstanding Award-2006 Academic Accomplishment by Junior Chambers International, Abeokuta, Gateway Hotel, Abeokuta, Nigeria, and the Best Oral Presenter Award at the 7th African Crops Science Conference organized by African Crops Science Society, Entente, Uganda in December 2005.
No comments:
Post a Comment