The Food Science and Technology programme was formally established in 2017, having been created in the Department of Mechanical and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology as one of the pioneers programmes at the First Technical University, Ibadan. The Programme was established to produce self-reliant and self-sustaining graduates who will be conversant in a broad sense with theories, principles and their practical applications of food. The planning of the programme was to cater for Nigeria as well as global needs in the field of production, storage, preservation, processing and quality control of agricultural (plant and animal) products. To contribute to the development of the nation, the programme was poised to the training of graduates who would later become managers leading food industries and also encourage indigenous food processers.

The programme started full operation in the 2017/2018 Academic Session under the coordination of Dr. O. O. E. Ajibola who was the Acting Dean Faculty of Engineering and Technology. During the 2019/2020 Academic Session, the programme was placed under the Department of Mechanical and Agricultural Engineering under the headship of Dr. I. O. Olaoye who served as the acting head of the department. The Programme started with a five-year programme leading to the award to the degree Bachelor of Science (honors) in Food Science and Technology. During the 2018/2919 Academic Session, the first set of students emerged who registered for their core Food Science and Technology course; FST 201. At that level the programme was endowed with 24 undergraduate students with two full-time lectures and one adjunct professor.

Right from the inception of the programme Food Science and Technology, the programme was equipped with the facilities to cover teaching and research in food chemistry, food processing, food engineering, food microbiology, sensometrics, quality control, food nutrition, baking and brewing technology

To promote world-class innovation in a sustainable manner, driven by entrepreneurial practices using cutting edge technology, and to produce students who can think outside the box in physical sciences, harness modern technology, and whose research contributes a substantial proportion of innovations in Nigeria and occupy leadership positions in public and private sectors of the Nigeria economy.

To train hands with cutting edge technology, entrepreneurial, industrial, innovation skills, promote innovation, impact-based research for industrial and societal benefits and engage in knowledge transfer for industrial and societal development, engender a sense of selfless public services.

The Head of Department

The Department is normally headed by an academic staff not below the rank of senior lecturer, who must be registered professionally by the Nigeria Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST). The appointment of the Head of Department is at the discretion of the Vice-Chancellor, normally for a period of one year, but can be renewed or rotated to another qualified person in ensuring all-inclusive leadership development in the administration of the Department.

The Head is assisted by other members of staff formed into various committees, panels and groups, such as Board of Examiners, Review Panel, Student-Staff Relation, etc. The Department also holds a regular General Departmental Meeting, where all recommendations from the various activity groups are considered.

Other academic and non-academic positions, in-line with Career Structures of the University are as follows: