By Mustafa Abubakar
Five major industry partners have significantly boosted the Department of Food Engineering, University of Ilorin, through generous donations that strengthened its teaching, research and laboratory capacity.
The partners are Engr Dr Abioye M. Dele of BUA Foods Plc; Alhaji Adejumo Tijani, CEO of Fortunate Bakery; Alhaji Yahaya Rasaki Ademola, CEO of RASMut Multidynamic Enterprise; Mr Obijiaku Charles, CEO of St. Rina Creamy and Confectioneries; and Mr Adeyemo Adewale Kazeem, CEO of Forest Foods Ltd.
Speaking with UNILORIN Bulletin on the donations last Tuesday (November 18, 2025), the Head of the Department, Dr Sanusi Mayowa Saheed, disclosed that the collaboration has enabled the provision of several new laboratory resources to support the University’s mission of enhancing food engineering education.
According to him, a major highlight is the extensive support from BUA Foods Plc, led by its Managing Director, Engr. Dr Abioye, who donated several laboratory-scale equipment ranging from a food dehydrator, liquid filler, vacuum sealer, precision measurement instruments, industrial and tabletop weighing scales, digital water bath, refractometer, infrared thermometer, and pH meter, greatly improving the Department’s processing and quality assessment capacity.
Dr Sanusi noted that other partners also made key contributions such as Alhaji Adejumo Tijani who donated a 20 kg planetary mixer for dough processing; Alhaji Yahaya Rasaki Ademola, who donated a ZACME dough mixer; while Mr Obijiaku Charles provided a juice extractor and a double-face electric hotplate to support small-scale food processing training.
He added that the Department’s Fluidised Bed Dryer was restored to full functionality through the support of Engr Bello Abdulkabir of Charters Communications, USA.
He said that teaching delivery also improved with the donation of an HY320 LCD projector by Mr Tomilade Adeponle John of Imperial Brands UK, while Mr Adeyemo Adewale Kazeem enhanced the analytical laboratory with a microscope and a spectrophotometer.
Reflecting on these achievements, Dr Sanusi expressed deep appreciation to all donors, noting that their support demonstrates a strong commitment to strengthening Food Engineering education and research in Nigeria, and reaffirmed the Department’s resolve to maintain productive industry partnerships aimed at advancing innovative teaching and research excellence.
The Department of Food Engineering is experiencing notable growth in its teaching and research infrastructure through ongoing engagement with industry partners, facilitated by its Industrial Advisory Board.
