Gabriel I. Okafor (PhD) is a Professor of Food Process Engineering in the Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. He is a distinguished graduate of Odessa National Academy of Food Technologies, Odessa, Ukraine (ONAFT), having studied Food Technology and obtained MSc. and PhD degrees in 1991 and 1994, respectively. Prior to joining the University of Nigeria, in 2006, he worked at Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (1994-1996), the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (Principal Research Officer 1997-2002) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) (Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer (Local Food Product Registration Unit 2002-2006). He is a Visionary Leader (NIFST East Central – Chapter Chairman) and a serving member of the University Senate (2012 – date). He served as a Visiting Scholar in the Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State (Jan –Dec. 2015), University of Reading (Feb – June 2004); School of Packaging, Michigan State University (2018-2019.
He is the current Head of the Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. He is an Innovative Scientist whose research works produced over 90 scientific publications which include patents, journal articles, proceedings, chapters in books, technology innovations, and technical reports amongst others. He is a scholar of extraordinary insight, whose five outstanding innovations are currently undergoing patenting processes. He is a Reviewer of several learned journals and Editor in Chief of the Nigerian Food Journal. He is a recipient of several scholarships and various awards as follows: Federal Government of Nigeria undergraduate scholarship award to USSR (Sept. 1985-July 1991); Certificate of Merit for research excellence by Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, for excellence in canning local food products; Third World Academy of Science Postdoctoral Fellowship Award to CFTRI, Mysore, India (June 2002 – Dec. 2002). He is the first African to win the Seligman Fellowship Award in Food Engineering by the Society of Chemical Industry, UK, tenable at the University of Reading, Food Standard Agency, UK and other Food establishments (Feb. 2004 – June 2004). He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST), a Member, of the West African Association of Food Science & Technology (WAAFoST), the International Union of Food Science & Technology (IUFoST), Society of Chemical Industry, UK (SCI), New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) and Nigerian Agricultural Research Policy Network.
