TITLE (PROF/DR/): DR.

NAME: ADETOUN AKITOYE

POSITION: LECTURER II

SPECIALISATION: INDUSTRIAL/MATERIALS CHEMISTRY

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Personal Statement

I am an early career researcher and food security enthusiast, with a passion for advancing sustainable solutions in food systems through Chemistry and Materials Science. My work focuses on developing smart, biodegradable packaging and sensor-integrated technologies from agricultural waste. With a strong commitment to reducing postharvest losses through green chemistry for a circular economy, I constantly seek to bridge scientific research with real-world impact- empowering youths, young scientists and local communities through innovation and advocacy. My ultimate goal is to translate research into scalable products and training models that address Africa’s challenges in food security, unemployment, and sustainable development through collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches.

Positions, Scientific Appointments, and Honours

• Best Ph.D. Thesis Award (OVERALL) – University of Lagos (January, 2025)
• Best Ph.D. Thesis Award (SCIENCE) – University of Lagos (January, 2025)
• Women in Chemistry Recognition Award| IUPAC Global Women in Chemistry Breakfast (February 2025)
• Vice Chairperson – National Technical Committee on Roots and Tree Crops of the Standard Organization of Nigeria| September, 2024
• Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Postgraduate Scholarship (2023)
• Best Paper Award”- Agropreneurship Solutions Trac| ARUA Conference, Nairobi, Kenya (July 2022)
• TechWomen Fellowship by USA Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs (2022)
• Social Innovator Award-SIP Fellow (LEAP Africa)- 2018
• Top three Exceptional Lagosian Award (Lagos Citizens’ Day-2015)
• Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Scholarship – for participation in the Summer School on Climate Change and Global Food Security at the University of Nottingham (2014)
• Unilever/DiamondLights Scholarship (2012)
• Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF)/Intercontinental Bank Scholarship (2010)
• NAFDAC Volunteer Service recognition Award (2015)
• Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (i-FAIR)| Vice President of Nigeria, December, 2020
• Youth Action Net Fellow/Social Innovators Program Award, LEAP Africa (2017)
• Scholar, Association of Commonwealth Universities, United Kingdom (2014)
• Journal Reviewer (Elsevier Plant Nanobiology)

Selected Most Recent Publications  /Contributions to Knowledge

1. Akitoye A, Blank D, Olaitan G, Akinbulu IA, Okiei W and Silva TA (2025). Shelf-life quality evaluation and smartphone-based phenolic analysis of cassava treated with varied chitosan formulations. Food Chemistry467: 142270.
2. Akitoye A, Olaitan G, Akinbulu I and Okiei W (2024). Effective chitosan-antioxidant treatments for extending cassava shelf-life evaluated using silver nanosensor. Plant Nano Biology10: 100115.
3. Akitoye A, Tochi NS, Akinbulu IA, Okiei WO and Silva TA (2024). Chitosan nanocomposites-based electrochemical sensors: A review. International Research Journal of Pure and Applied Chemistry25(4): 76–98.
4. Akitoye AA, Ibrahim GO and Okiei WO (2024). Chitosan-based coatings for shelf-life elongation of cassava root tubers. Moroccan Journal of Chemistry12(1). https://doi.org/10.48317/IMIST.PRSM/morjchem-v12i1.42
5. Akitoye A and Iluebbey P (2023). Agropreneurship opportunities presented by Russia-Ukraine war: Harnessing cassava innovation in Africa. Journal of African Employment, Entrepreneurship & Skills Development (JAEESD)Special Issue: 30–60. https://arua-coe-usd.com/

Collaborators/ Networks(International inclusive)

1. Tiago Almeida Silva, Federal University of Vicosa, Brazil
2. Jessica B. Lyons, Gates Foundation, USA
3. James McManus, Department of Agriculture, California, USA
4. Peter Iluebbey, IITA, Ibadan