Prof. Subuola Bosede Fasoyiro is a famend Nigerian meals scientist, researcher and academic. She is a Professor of Food Science and Technology on the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, an institute affiliated with Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. With almost three a long time of expertise in analysis, instructing and neighborhood growth, she has made important contributions to meals safety, agricultural worth addition and human capability growth.
She additionally serves as a minister, neighborhood chief and advocate (NGO work), an entrepreneur, and an writer.
In this interview with WALE AKINOLA, she reflects on her academic journey, analysis milestones, awards, management experiences and dedication to neighborhood service. Excerpt:
1. Could you start by sharing your formative years, together with your date and place of origin, in addition to the household background in which you had been raised?
I was born in Lagos, Lagos state, on 1st of August 1971, to the household of Eng. Peter Olufemi Ojo and Late Mrs Veronica Ayodele Ojo. I was the second youngster out of six. I was raised in a Christian household the place my Dad and Mum maintain godly, good values: a great household life, good child-rearing, sound training for youngsters, treating individuals properly, self-discipline, diligence and service. This residence coaching was foundational for me aside from understanding the Lord personally.
2. Who are your mother and father, and what affect have they got on your upbringing, values, and academic route?
My mother and father are Christians who maintain God first as a precept, sound training for youngsters, household devotion with singing from the Baptist Hymn e book (sharing the phrase and praying collectively). My mother served as a great motivator for studying.
3. What are you able to inform us about your main faculty and secondary faculty training, and how these early academic experiences formed your curiosity in your area?
I attended Subuola Nursery and Primary School in Ibadan between 1976 and 1981, based by late Mrs Funmilayo Adesina. Godliness, character and service are key qualities of the varsity. One of the issues we now have is the hymn books we use in each day morning devotion in these days ‘Songs of Praise’, which I nonetheless sing from until in the present day, which I discovered fairly inspirational. Mama was additionally fluent in English and at all times dressed properly, which she inspired others to do as properly.
I attended Urban Day Grammar School (UGDS) on New Ife Road between 1981 and 1986. Keys classes from the varsity can be devotion and service. Throughout the interval, I was at all times both in the primary, second or third place in my class. I was chosen to function the top lady of the varsity in the ultimate yr.
4. What universities did you attend, and what levels or academic milestones have been most vital in your career journey?
I earned a Bachelor’s diploma in Food Science and Technology from the Department of Food Science and Technology on the former University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, now often known as the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), in 1994. I attended between 1998 and 1994. I acquired Late Dr Apampa Prize for Best Graduating Student in Food Science and Technology, 1993/94 session, and Erinoso Prize for the Graduating Student with the best CGPA in General Studies, 1993/94 session.
I labored with Professor Olusola Oyewole for my B.Sc undertaking work. I additionally earned M.Sc. and PhD levels in Food Technology from the Department of Food Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, in 1997 and 2004, respectively. The M.Sc between 1995 and 1997 and the PhD between 2000 and 2004. My PhD mentor was Prof Gabriel Adegoke. I labored on a spice, Aframomum danielli, for each my M.Sc and PhD programmes.
I additionally had different related trainings and certificates in Quality Management and Food Safety Systems in Food Industry and Agribusiness from International Agricultural Centre of Wageningen University, The Netherland (2004), Better Process Control School and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points, Penn State University, Pennsylvania, USA (2007), Research and Development in Post-Harvest Technologies, Center for International Agricultural Development Cooperation, Israel (2007) and Gender Issues in Value Chains, Kwame Nkurumah University, Ghana, (2013).
I chose Food Science and Technology as a result of you need to use it to affect lives in alternative ways, whether or not in households, workplaces, colleges, or communities, by means of innovation and human capability growth. Food Science and Technology is categorized underneath agricultural or expertise area in some University. I loved agriculture as a topic in secondary faculty.
5. What impressed your alternative of career, and how did your skilled path start after finishing your training?
With readability that I could make an affect in totally different pathways with Food Science and Technology as a course; as a researcher, an academic, a meals skilled and even as a meals entrepreneur, based mostly on this, I made the knowledgeable alternative to review the course.
6. Could you stroll us by means of your career development and spotlight the important thing positions you held through the years?
My academic career on the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ibadan in 1998 as a Junior Research Fellow and rose by means of the ranks to the place of Professor of Food Technology in 2014. I first labored with Prof. V.A. Obatolu as a mentor at IAR&T.
Roles served at IAR&T and OAU embrace:
Junior Research Fellow, Farming System Research and Extension Programme, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan, 1998-2002
Research Fellow II, Grain Legume Improvement Programme, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan, 2002-2005
Research Fellow I, Post-harvest Technology Improvement Programme, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan, 2005-2008
Senior Research Fellow, Product Development Programme, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan, 2008- 2011
Associate Lecturer / Supervisor & Mentor / Faculty & Senate Member, Department of Family, Nutrition and Consumer Studies, O.A.U., Faculty of Agriculture, 2011 to this point
Head of Programme, Product Development Programme, 2012-2016, IAR&T
Principal Research Fellow, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan, 2011 to 2014
Head, Life Science Centre, 2019- 2022, IAR&T
Research Professor, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan, 2014 to this point (not introduced till 2020)
Editor, Moor Journal of Agricultural Research, 2019 to this point
Editorial Board, Moor Journal of Agricultural Research, 2019 to this point
Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Moor Journal of Agricultural Research, 2022-2026
Overseer, BORA Agro Nigeria Limited, IAR&T subsidiary, 2025 to this point
I have additionally served as a member and as chairperson in varied committees.
My career work additionally spans outdoors of IAR&T and OAU throughout quick leaves and sabbatical depart as:
Visiting Scholar, Borlaug Women-in- Science, Department of Food Science, College of Agriculture, Penn State University, 2007
Formal Mentor, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) for Early Career Researchers, 2013-2014
Sabbatical Professor, BOWEN University, Department of Food Science and Technology Program, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science (COAES), Iwo, Osun State, 2022-2023
Visiting Scholar, Schlumberger Faculty of the Future Fellow, Department of Food Science, College of Agriculture, Penn State University, 2015-2016.
7. What are your main areas of analysis and focus, and what contributions have you ever made to data in your area?
Research, capability constructing/ human capability growth and different contributions
I have labored in collaboration nationally and internationally. Internationally, at Penn State, I labored twice with Prof. Catherine Cutter, first as a Borlaug Women in Science Fellow and later underneath the Schlumberger Foundation Faculty of the Future Program. In the Borlaug Program, we had been 4 (4) chosen from Africa to be at Penn State, and in the Schumberger Program, 100 and fifty-five (155) of us, as females, had been chosen from around the globe.
Prof. Fasoyiro and Prof. Cutter on the Department of Food Science, Penn State in 2007
My analysis focuses on meals processing expertise, product growth, agricultural worth addition, post-harvest loss discount, meals and diet safety, meals security, and agribusiness to advertise wholesome consuming, fight malnutrition, and generate revenue for livelihoods and financial progress. It is concentrated on attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 2, 3 and 8.
My analysis is on the event of meals methods. I first labored with Prof. V.A Obatolu as a mentor at IAR&T.
Upon resuming at IAR&T, I couldn’t proceed working on spices as a result of IAR&T, like different analysis institutes, has a mandate to focus on particular crops. IAR&T mandate crops embrace maize, legumes, and roselle, so I developed a renewed curiosity in legumes, particularly in analysis on underutilised legumes, focusing first on pigeon pea in 2005. IAR&T analysis is for growth (R4D).
I pioneered pigeon pea meals analysis at IAR&T and labored with groups to develop over 20 merchandise from pigeon pea seeds, together with single-use or fortified merchandise with maize or cassava flour, in addition to merchandise to enhance family diet, equivalent to breakfast meals, snacks, improved indigenous meals, and child meals. I additionally labored on roselle leaves as fruit–flavoured drinks and on soybeans, utilizing roselle in its place coagulant for soy cheese-making. I additionally collaborated with different researchers on different analysis research.
· I encourage adopting wholesome improvements, particularly underutilised legumes, as an alternative choice to animal proteins to enhance neighborhood diet, fight malnutrition, and help veggie eaters.
· I encourage work alternatives by means of meals processing expertise on developed merchandise and others for self-reliance and revenue technology with worth and character.
In capability constructing, a few of these applied sciences have been disseminated, and individuals have been educated in each city and rural communities. People educated embrace farmers, ladies from farm households, ladies’s teams, native processors, cottage industries, college students, unemployed youth, and even retirees. Training befell in native communities throughout Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Lagos states. IAR&T has some adopted villages and colleges, for example, at Moloko Ashipa in Ogun State and Oniyo, the place we now have been conducting a number of the trainings for the reason that early 2000s, beginning with soybean applied sciences developed earlier than I resumed obligation. I began my capacity-building work with soybean utilisation coaching in the adopted villages through the years. Also, in meals processing expertise, I had the chance to coach college students and visiting students in State College, Penn State, and internationally. The IAR&T Annual Report (2025) reported an adoption fee of over 90% for the disseminated Roselle drinks in southwest Nigeria, with households, particularly ladies, producing revenue from them.
Fasoyiro with PSU college students, visiting students and workers she educated in 2015
Collaboration for analysis work has been performed nationally with FUNAAB on the TETFUND undertaking, 2015-2017, and with LAUTECH/KWASU on the ARCN undertaking, 2014-2016, and on coaching with NSPRI, NIFST, NIHORT, BOWEN, and NGOs for early-career researchers, farmers, and college students.
Authorship Reviewer, Editor, Internal and External Examiner
These analysis research have led to over 90 publications as writer or co-author in nationwide and worldwide peer-reviewed journals, chapters, convention proceedings, books, technical stories, guides, and manuals. Some of those works are current on Google Scholar with over 1,500 citations and on ResearchGate. I have additionally served as a reviewer for over fifteen (15) journals and books, equivalent to Elsevier, Journal of Food Processing and Preservation (UK), African Journal of Food Science, Global Books (Japan), Ife Journal of Agriculture, Moor Journal of Agricultural Research, Journal of Gender Studies, International Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, to say just a few. I served as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Moor Journal of Agricultural Research from 2022 to 2026 and have served as a Board member of the journal from 2019 to this point. I additionally served as an inside and exterior examiner for postgraduate theses and researchers’ promotion workout routines at IAR&T, University of Ibadan, FUTA, and BOWEN University, Iwo.
Listed
I was listed in:
· Scilvar List of Top 500 Nigerian Food Science Authors in 2015-2019 and
· Scilvar List of Top 500 Nigerian Food Science Authors in 2016-2020.
Teaching & Mentoring
I have the chance to lecture, supervise, and mentor college students in the Department of Family Nutrition and Consumer Sciences at OAU and at BOWEN University, Iwo, on the undergraduate and postgraduate ranges. Mentoring has additionally been performed nationally with early careers at IAR&T, internationally with AWARD applications, and additionally informally. Some of the individuals mentored now maintain PhD in Food Technology or allied fields, and some are actually in positions as Head of Programs and Assistant Directors in their workplaces. To the glory of God, I have had alternatives to impart by means of analysis improvements, instructing, coaching, mentoring, at main, secondary and University ranges, ladies teams, farmers, native processors, cottage industries, college students, youth with early career and mid-career researchers in Universities and analysis institutes, and individuals service at NGOs.
Conferences and Public Lectures delivered
I have had the chance, by the grace of God, to attend over fifty (50) conferences, summits, and workshops, principally in Nigeria and throughout Africa, America, Europe, and the Middle East. I have served as technical chair, speaker, panellist, moderator, facilitator, and choose at these conferences. I have delivered over ten keynote lectures, which embrace:
· Public Lecture at Global Connections at State College, Pennsylvania, USA
Fasoyiro (2015). Nigeria Cultural Luncheon, State College Community, Pennsylvania, 2015. Organised by Global Connections, PSU.
This gave me not simply the chance to share my analysis work on pigeon pea, soybean, and roselle with the State College neighborhood. I was additionally capable of prepare neighborhood college students in meals preparation, and they tasted the meals.
Prof. Fasoyiro with a few of her husband, Engr Olusina Fasoyiro, an AWARD mentee, Dr. O. T. Olanipekun and undertaking college students at OAU throughout her inaugural lecture, 2023
· Lead paper FACSON, 2021
Fasoyiro, S.B. (2021). The Role of Consumer Sciences in Contributing to National Development in Nigeria. Lead Paper at tenth Annual Conference of Family and Consumer Sciences Society of Nigeria (FACSON), OAU, Ile-Ife, eighth November, 2021. Published in International Journal of Consumer Sciences, 10:97-110.
· 372nd OAU Inaugural Lecture, 2023
Fasoyiro, S. B. (2023). Hidden treasures in vegetation for good safety, a wholesome and rich life. 372nd Inaugural Lecture, Delivered thirteenth June 2023, Obafemi Awolowo University Printing Press, Ile- Ife.
I used it to:
– It is used to speak my analysis and improvements with groups on pigeon pea, which I labored principally on, roselle and soybean, to the society on what roles analysis improvements can play in enhancing meals and diet safety, well being, revenue technology and financial progress
-Advocate for the consumption of underutilised legumes as an reasonably priced protein supply to fight malnutrition in youngsters.
– Encourage the federal government to implement farm-to-food centres to cut back post- harvest losses (principally round 30- 50%) after harvest and to strengthen the agricultural worth chain of meals crops
– to handle the problem amongst youths in Nigeria saying ‘schooling is a scam’ that ‘actual training is gentle ‘ that develops the top, palms (hands-on expertise) and coronary heart; good values and character for work or service to have the ability to contribute to a greater society anyplace.
– I additionally inspired and emphasised mentoring as essential for sustainable growth, amongst others
• thirteenth FUNAAB Matriculation and Commencement Lecture delivered because the First Female, 2025
Fasoyiro S.B. (2025). thirteenth Commencement and Matriculation Lecture of FUNAAB titled Future Leaders of Character in Agriculture: Building Capacity Today for National and Global Impact Tomorrow. nineteenth November, 2025.
Last yr, FUNAAB enrolled the biggest variety of college students since its inception, over 6,000 college students, of whom over 4,000 had been feminine. When considering of a feminine alumna who might come to encourage and encourage these college students, I got here to thoughts and was chosen to ship the lecture.
To the glory of God, by means of analysis, innovation, and human capability constructing by means of IAR &T, OAU, as a useful resource particular person in empowerment applications, in collaboration, we are going to attain over 15,000 individuals we now have educated, taught, mentored, or who’re beneficiaries.
8. As a lecturer, how would you describe your instructing philosophy, and what do you take into account essentially the most impactful contributions to college students and academia?
My total philosophy:
Putting God first and glorify, gratitude, concern of God, kindness, empathy, holistic strategy to life, good household life, taking note of capability growth and character, that’s, studying and doing, course of matter in growth, making hay whereas the solar shine, doing significant work, wonderful work and service, and be a contributor to your neighborhood, society and past making constructive impacts. With a way of objective, which could be summarised as ‘ God first and glorify, be a good steward to humanity,’ be it at residence, work, communities or anyplace.
9. Beyond academia, what roles have you ever performed in management, institutional service, and neighborhood growth?
I have performed roles in skilled organisation and communities, as a minister in campus fellowships and church buildings. I don’t separate my private life from my skilled life; each are nonetheless the identical particular person underneath God.
· Head Girl, Urban Day Grammar School, Old Ife Road, 1985- 1986
Agricultural Class Teacher, similar faculty in 1997 – 1998
Vice President, Nigerian Association of Food Science and Technology Students (NAFST), FUNAAB, 1991/92 session, which is inside academia and outdoors, as:
· Zonal Coordinator, Nigerian Food Science and Technology, Oyo/ Osun/Kwara zones 2023- 2026
· Vice Chair II, Nigerian Food Science and Technology, Western Chapter, 2023- 2026
· Vice Chair I, Nigerian Food Science and Technology, Western Chapter, 2026 to this point
· Full member of the Organisation of Women in Science in Developing Countries (OWSD), 2013 to this point, the place we encourage ladies, particularly in the sciences.
· Co-founder of Grace ReachFill Development Foundation (GRDF) with my husband, Eng. Oluina Fasoyiro. This initiative commenced in 2016 to coach and empower underprivileged ladies, youth, and ladies for progress and well-being.
· Co- founder, Clean Water and Entrepreneurship Initiative with my husband, ‘Graceso water ‘, to affect the neighborhood with poor water provide that has empowered over 100 individuals over ten (10 ) years, particularly unemployed ladies as entrepreneurs to help their households.
· Host and Leader of Well in Virtue Advisory, an arm of GRDF in serving to with free consultancy for professionals and youths in the direction of career, skilled and private growth.
· Personal growth books, authorship because the GraceReachFill collection embrace:
Fasoyiro, S. (2020). Codes of Life-Building on Solid Foundation. Fashal Precepts Publisher, Ibadan
Fasoyiro, S. O., Fasoyiro, S.B. and Oduntan, A.O. (2022). Values and Character for Lasting Success. Fasoyiro, S.B. and Fasoyiro, S.O. (2022). 40 Tips on Marriage for a Peaceful and Better Society
Fasoyiro et al, 2025. Holistic Approach to creating a youth and a life.
· Children trainer, Nigerian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFES), 1990-1994
· IAR&T in the church, I have served in the ministry based by Bishop Wale Oke as:
Children Teacher, Christ Life Church, Sebo and Garden of Victory, 1995-1998, 2000-2004
· Financial secretary of the Victorious Women Fellowship throughout the Garden of Victory from 2011 to 2014
· Member, Board of Management from 2018 to 2014 Oke Hope Alive
· Head for Deaconess, Christ Life Church Garden of Victory, Christ Life Church, 2012- 2014
· Vice Principal of Welfare Outreach Team, 2023-2025.
· Member, Board of Christ Life Church Group of Schools Garden of Victory, 2023 to this point
· Counsellor, Foundation class trainer and Marriage counsellor 2005, 2018, 2025 respectively to this point.
10. Describe your total philosophy guiding your private and skilled life, and trying again, what honours, fellowships and grants have you ever acquired?
The total philosophy abstract:
God first and glorify, have a way of objective, develop capability and character, and be a steward to humanity, be it at residence, office, in communities, anyplace, making constructive contributions. It is about data and utility, ideas and practices, worth and virtues to God glorified
Fellowships acquired
Fellow, Netherlands Fellowship Programme, The Netherlands, 2004.
Fellow, African Nutrition Leadership Programme (ANLP), South Africa, 2006.
Fellow, Norman Borlaug Women-in-Science, USA, 2007.
Mashav Scholar, Israel, 2007
Post-doctoral Fellow, Award of African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), 2010-2012. Prof Ok. T. Taiwo served as my AWARD mentor in this management program.
Post-doctoral Fellow, Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future, 2015-2016. *(acquired as Principal Research Fellow earlier than Prof Announcement in 2020)
Fellow, Australian Award, 2018
Fellow, Centre for Productivity and Development (FCP), 2026
Grants acquired
As the principal Investigator (PI)
International Foundation of Science (IFS), 2009
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Borlaug grant, 2010
Schlumberger Foundation grant, 2015
Collaborative analysis grant
ARCN grant, 2014
TETFUND grant 2015
TETFUND grant, 202
Awards/Honours acquired
Late Dr Apampa Award, Best Graduating Student, Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, 1993/1994 Session.
Erinoso Award. Student with the best C.G.P.A. in General Studies. University of
Abeokuta, Oyo State, 1993/1994 Session.
Career Award, Christ Life Church, Garden, 2006
Mentor, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development, Kenya, 2013-2014.
Membership Honours for High Scholarship, Gamma Sigma Honour Society of Agriculture, Penn State University, USA, 2016
Best Paper Award, International Conference of Food Properties, UAE, 2018
Award of Excellence for Keynote Paper Presentation, NIEEE, 2021
Jericho Business Club Panelist Award, 2023, as a panelist in the First Socioeconomic Summit in Ibadan, 2023
Alumnus Distinguished Service Award, FUNAAB Alumni, Ibadan department, 2022.
Commendation Letter for Distinguished Service, Food Science and Technology Programme, COAES, BOWEN University, Iwo, 2023
FUNAAB Alumni Humanitarian Award, 2024
FUNAAB Award of Honour for supply of the thirteenth Matriculation graduation Lecture, 2025
Best Presentation Award, twelfth NIFST Conference, 2026
Chairperson Award of Support as Vice Chair, NIFST-Western Chapter from 2023-2026
Urban Day Grammar School (UDGS) Award for contribution to agriculture and training, 2026
Marriage
Prof. Fasoyiro, her husband, Engr. Olusina Fasoyiro and their youngsters
I bought married 28 years in the past. I am fortunately married to Engr. Olusina Fasoyiro, FNSE, FNICE, and the wedding is blessed with David Fasoyiro, Praise Fasoyiro, and Fimidara Fasoyiro. Two of them graduated with first-class honours in public well being and agricultural fields. I should additionally point out that being a lady in academia is demanding. We additionally provide college students and younger {couples} godly counsel on marriage, drawing on our years of marriage expertise. I encourage each males and ladies to ‘marry right’.
I should additionally say that I admire all of the help regionally and nationally, at residence with household and associates, groups on the office and church, fellowship, alumni communities, skilled organisations, coaching, mentoring, donor and collaborating organisations globally. All glory be to God.