– Recommends Enhanced Post-Harvest Systems for Safe Fish Consumption
Bells University of Technology, Ota, successfully hosted its milestone 10th Inaugural Lecture on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, featuring a profound presentation by Professor John Abiodun Daramola, a distinguished Professor of Fish Post-Harvest Quality and Utilization.
The lecture, held at the BUPF International Conference Centre, was presided over by the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jeremiah Oludele Ojediran. The event drew an esteemed audience of principal officers, academics, traditional leaders, representatives from the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), and family members.
Securing Public Health from Water to Plate
Titled “From Water to the Table: Securing Safe and Wholesome Fish for Public Health,” the lecture tackled the complex journey of aquatic food systems and the vital need to reduce post-harvest losses to protect consumers.
Professor Daramola expanded the conventional definition of fish, clarifying that the term encompasses a vast matrix of edible aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates—including finfish, crustaceans, mollusks, and even aquatic insects—all playing a massive role in global economies and human nutrition. Highlighting the health benefits of aquatic proteins, he championed swapping red meat for fish to optimize cardiovascular and cognitive health.
However, the core challenge remains the rapid rate of spoilage. Professor Daramola pointed out that while aquaculture produces over 60% of the dietary protein in developing African nations, roughly 35% or more of annual yields are entirely wasted due to infrastructure gaps, transport distances, and lack of preservation systems.
A Legacy of Impactful Research
Drawing from decades of scholastic inquiry, the inaugural lecturer broken down his academic contributions into key areas:
• Waste Valuation in Feeds: Highlighting his early milestone research replacing expensive fish meal with processed shrimp head waste (up to 60%) in Tilapia diets, demonstrating a dramatic 43% reduction in feed production costs without inhibiting growth.
• Post-Harvest Preservation: Detailing his joint innovation of the “FUTA Model Fish Smoking Kiln”—a multi-tray rotary technology utilizing cheap agro-wastes like sawdust and rice bran as alternatives to conventional charcoal, offering over 69% energy efficiency.
• Microbiology & Public Health: Documenting the presence of foodborne pathogens and heavy metals in unhygienically handled retail seafood, warning consumers to thoroughly clean and reheat ready-to-eat market shrimps and prawns.
Looking to the Future
Professor Daramola announced that his future research windows will heavily focus on emerging threats to human wellness, specifically mapping out the health consequences of microplastics embedded in fish tissue. He also revealed ongoing efforts toward inventing a portable, rapid diagnostic test kit designed to allow immediate, real-time detection of fish spoilage directly at ports and open marketplaces.
Tributes and Acknowledgments
In his concluding remarks, Professor Daramola offered emotional gratitude to his parents, his wife Mrs. Bolanle Esther Daramola (who helped refine the title of the day’s lecture), and his academic mentor, Professor Emmanuel Adiparosi, who traveled from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) to witness the event.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jeremiah Oludele Ojediran, praised the lecturer’s academic rigor and noted that the landmark occasion beautifully marked the final inaugural lecture he would officially chair as the institution’s third Vice-Chancellor. Professor Daramola was subsequently honored with an Award of Excellence plaque to commemorate the landmark achievement.
