ABOUT THE PLENARY SPEAKER
Prof(Mrs) Gloria N. Elemo is the Director General/Chief Executive of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi, Lagos. She holds a doctoral degree in Human Nutrition with specialization in Nutritional Biochemistry from the University of Ibadan since 1984. She had her Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Benin in 1979 and a Masters in Human Nutrition from the University of Ibadan in 1981. She was also a Commonwealth Scholar in Food Science & Nutrition at the University of Reading, United Kingdom in 1991.
Prof. Gloria Elemo started her career as a Clinical Biochemist in the Department of Pathology at the Bauchi State Hospital where she undertook her National Youth Service in 1979. She was also a lecturer at the School of Medical Laboratory Technology of the Hospital from 1979-1980. She joined the Department of Human Nutrition of the University of Ibadan as a Graduate Assistant in 1982 and moved from there to join the Department of Biochemistry of the Lagos State University (LASU) as a Lecturer in 1984.
She rose to the position of a Senior Lecturer and Head of Department of Biochemistry in 1991. She also served in many other capacities including; member University Senate, Senate Committee on Appointments & Promotions, University Disciplinary Committee and Chairman, University Ceremonies Committee amongst others. She moved from academics to join the federal government civil service in 1993 as a Chief Scientific Officer in Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Abuja. She coordinated most of the research activities of the Council and was instrumental to the setting up of about 8 Catalytic Model Plants for some major raw materials available in Nigeria. She rose to the position of Deputy Director, Research & Development of the council in 1995.
Prof(Mrs) Elemo joined the services of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi as the Director, Food and Analytical Services in 2007 and remained in that capacity until her appointment as the Director General/CEO in May, 2011.
She serves as a member of the National Council on Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises under the Chairmanship of the Vice President of Nigeria, National Cassava Development Fund and the National Council on Science &Technology amongst others. Prof. Elemo also sits on the Board of the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) upon her appointment as a member since 2015.
She is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST), Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (ICCON), Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), and Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering. She is also a member of the Chemical Society of Nigeria and Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN) amongst others.
She belongs to many other local and international professional bodies some of which include; New York Academy of Science, British Nutrition Society, Third World Academy for Women in Science and African Society of Toxicology Sciences, American Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology amongst others. Dr. Elemo is listed on the Marquis - Who is Who in the World; 16th edition.
Prof. Gloria Elemo’s focused areas of specialization include Human Nutrition, Food Processing, Food Product Development and Food Value Evaluation. The outstanding findings from her doctoral degree thesis formed the basis for FAO/WHO/UNU recommended human energy and protein requirements.
Notable awards and distinctions to her credit include; University of Ibadan Post Graduate Academic Fellowship (1982-‘84); Commonwealth Academic Fellowship, University of Reading, England (1991-‘92); Special Merit Award Certificate of Achievement as the Best Co-odinator of Projects(1996); Third World Medical Research Foundation Certificate of Recognition for Research Presentation (2003); and Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Contribution for Promoting Toxicological Sciences in Africa (2006).
Prof. Elemo is well published with over 90 scientific papers in both local and international journals and scientific publications. She also has more than 60 publications in conference proceedings and seminars. Her passion for excellence and scientific knowledge continues to receive recognition locally and internationally.
On account of her future desire to continue to mentor and impact knowledge in upcoming scientists, she was offered a professorial chair in Biochemistry by the Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo. Prof (Mrs) Elemo is happily married and blessed with children.