AS part of the efforts to foster the food, beverages and drugs industries, the University of Ibadan (UI) Ventures Limited, in conjunction with A-Z Exhibition Ventures, has concluded plans to hold its maiden international food, beverages, and drugs fair and exhibition.
The Acting Managing Director of the University of Ibadan Ventures Limited, Mr Francis Akingbade, at the press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) Press Centre, recently, told newsmen that the one-week programme billed to commence from October 16 to 22, will project the progress the industries had recorded and proffer ideologies for an overall development.
Akingbade also stated that aside from the fair, the programme will feature seminars from experts in the three industries, as well as a dinner and award ceremony.
He listed the experts who will speak at the seminar to include Professor Kolawole Falade of the Department of Food Technology, UI; Dr Olayemi Adegbolagun of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, UI; Professor Funmilola Ajani, Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism Management, UI, and the former General Manager of the Nigerian Bottling Company, Prince Oluwarotimi Kolajo.
According to Akingbade, the programme will bring the government and all the stakeholders in the three fields together to foster their developments through agricultural development and financial support as well as address the challenges facing Nigerian products.
Speaking at the briefing, Prince Oluwarotimi Kolajo, stressed on the potential of food and drugs in Nigeria, saying that “the future of Nigeria is not on crude oil, but food.”
He noted that the forthcoming programme would open collaboration between the academics and practitioners to showcase their potential and discoveries.
A drug expert, Dr Olayemi Adegbolagun, said that it was high time Nigeria embraced its indigenous products in order to be at par with its counterparts’ pharmaceutical industries in other climes, noting that the exhibition will also sensitise the government and people on the social responsibility of drugs.
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