By Ayodele Abere Professor Olabimpe Iyabode Ojo of the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology BOUESTI, Ikere-Ekiti Ekiti, Ekiti State Nigeria, has advised that public health campaign should be initiated to raise awareness among students and the general public about the potential dangers of regular consumption of foods contaminated with toxic metals.
Professor Ojo gave the advice on Tuesday while delivering the BOUESTI 6th inaugural lecture at the University main campus in Ikere-Ekiti, with the topic; “Phytochemical Profiling and Nutrients Analysis of Plants-Based Foods: Unlocking Nature’s Bioactive Treasures”.
The inaugural lecturer who explained that human exposure to essential metals and toxic metals primarily occurs through Plant-Based staple foods, which are a major component of daily diets, maintained that essential metals crucial for physiological functions. Adding that toxic metals can lead to adverse health effects.
Mrs. Olabimpe Iyabode Ojo who is a Professor of food and medicinal chemistry as part of her recommendations urged that this research should be used as a reference for the development of regulations and policies aimed at controlling the entry of toxic metals into the food chain, especially during cultivation and processing stages.
Adding that relevant health authorities at the Local, State and Federal levels in Nigeria should be alerted to the presence of toxic metals in both processed and unprocessed staple foods.
According to the Don, human exposure to harmful substances and pathogenic microorganisms can occur through various channels, but food and beverages remain the most common vectors. Ojo maintained.
While commending the inaugural lecturer being the first female to deliver inaugural lecture in the history of the University, the Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Professor Andrew Babatunde Omojola noted that inaugural lecture is mainly to showcase talent and make policy statements which he said Professor Olabimpe Ojo has made in the course of her presentation.
Stressing that if the recommendations given can be followed that it would change the health of the population for better.
The VC who assumed office barely three weeks ago, said Ojo’s inaugural lecture was the first in his tenure. He therefore thanked God for the success of the presentation which according to him was straight to the point.
The inaugural lecture was well attended by the academia, family, friends and students of the university.
