IPAN Director Calls for Investment in Laboratory Capacity

 Dr Adeyemi Opeoluwa, Director of Scientific Affairs at the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN), has called for greater investment in laboratory regulatory capacity to advance the analysis of food micronutrients.

Opeoluwa made this appeal during the graduation ceremony of the third cohort of the Laboratory Analysis of Food Micronutrients (LAoFM) course, held on Wednesday in Lagos.

The LAoFM course was jointly developed by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and IPAN, with funding support from the Gates Foundation.

The course was designed to enhance competencies and capabilities in laboratory analysis of food micronutrients, in support of Nigeria’s Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) programme.

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Opeoluwa stressed that the LAoFM e-le0arning course represents a transformative intervention in tackling hidden hunger and improving the quality of food fortification in Nigeria.

According to him, LAoFM equips laboratory professionals with analytical skills to verify, standardise, and strengthen fortification efforts.

He noted that, without proper testing, fortified food may not achieve its intended health outcomes. He therefore called for the integration of LAoFM into national strategies for nutrition and food safety.

Opeoluwa also advocated for multisectoral partnerships to ensure sustained food safety, highlighting the importance of quality data to support informed decision-making.

In a similar vein, Ifunfun Akinduro, Head of Operations at GAIN Nigeria, stated that the LAoFM course had enrolled 51 candidates across intermediate and advanced levels since its inception over four years ago.

Akinduro noted that participants in the course were key stakeholders in Nigeria’s food fortification sector, including professionals from PZ Wilmar, Apple and Pears, Sunola, and Flour Mills of Nigeria, among others.

She explained that the course had prepared graduates to meet international standards, as evidenced by their successful completion of the ISO/IEC 17024:2012-aligned certification examination.

“To our graduates, you are more than just the latest beneficiaries of this programme, you are ambassadors and standard-bearers.

“Your achievement today signals to the industry and the public that we are building a skilled, competent and forward-thinking workforce to safeguard our food systems,” she said.

Mr Aliyu Angara, Registrar of IPAN, described LAoFM as a testament to the shared commitment to addressing the challenges of malnutrition and hidden hunger in the country.

Angara, who was represented by Christian Eboh, a Director at the Institute, affirmed that IPAN would continue to work diligently to ensure the course’s objectives and sustainability, with the aim of improving nutrition, food quality, and food security.