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BY ABU-SATAR HAMED
IBADAN, OYO STATE, NIGERIA – Engr. (Dr.) Idowu Olugbenga Adewumi, MNSE, of the School of Engineering, Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria, has revealed that Nigeria loses an estimated 30–50% of its cassava-based food products every year due to poor post-harvest management, improper drying methods, and microbial contamination.
Engr. (Dr.) Adewumi made this disclosure on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, during the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) 2025 Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM), held at the International Conference Center, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
The conference was declared open by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who was represented by the Honourable Minister of State for Works, Barr. Bello Caronyo, FNSE.
He noted that the economic losses resulting from post-harvest cassava spoilage run into billions of naira annually, leading to increased food insecurity and reduced income for rural farmers.
According to him, an AI-Driven Post-Harvest Loss Forecasting and Management System has now been developed to address these challenges.
He explained that the integrated system combines Machine Learning, Internet of Things (IoT) sensing technology, and predictive analytics to drastically reduce spoilage of Lafun, Fufu, and other cassava-based food products.
Engr. Adewumi further stated that Nigeria’s cassava value chain suffers significant losses, particularly during processing and drying stages, which negatively affect farmers’ livelihoods, national food security, and overall agricultural productivity.
He added that conventional monitoring systems are mostly manual and reactive, lacking real-time prediction and intervention capabilities, but that his innovation bridges this gap through sensor-driven environmental monitoring, advanced data analytics, AI-powered prediction models, and a comprehensive digital dashboard.
He disclosed that the system, built on the Garri PHL Monitoring Dashboard platform, transforms cassava processing centres from a reactive to a proactive post-harvest loss management approach.
The event also featured a formal recognition ceremony where Engr. Margret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, President and Chairman of Council, alongside members of the NSE Board, presented a prestigious award to Engr. (Dr.) Adewumi, who emerged as one of the Top Five Best Innovation Engineers in Nigeria.
Following a series of rigorous examinations, technical assessments, and multi-stage innovation interviews, the grand finale of the competition took place at the NSE National Headquarters, Abuja, on Thursday, November 20, 2025.
Engr. (Dr.) Adewumi distinguished himself as the First among the Top Five Best Innovation Engineers nationwide.
His award-winning innovation, the Scalable AI-Powered Post-Harvest Loss Prediction and Control System, was described as a transformative engineering solution designed to enhance agricultural productivity, reduce waste, and strengthen food security intelligence across Nigeria and the African continent.
The project has attracted widespread acclaim for its originality, technical excellence, and real-world impact.
The event was further honoured by the presence of the First Lady of Oyo State, Engr. Tamunominini Olufunke Makinde, FNSE, representing her husband, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Oluwaseyi Makinde, FNSE, as well as the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, FNSE.
Dignitaries from across the world, alongside engineers, academics, industry stakeholders, colleagues, partners, friends, and well-wishers, were in attendance to celebrate the remarkable achievement and honour a true icon of innovation in Nigerian engineering.
