LASCOPA Leads Fresh Push for Safer Food in Lagos

By Peter Emmanuel |

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has intensified efforts to promote food safety in Lagos State ahead of the 2026 Lagos State Food Safety Conference and Exhibition.

The fourth edition of the conference is scheduled to hold on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at NECA House, Alausa-Ikeja.

The one-day conference is themed “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere” and will bring together experts, food industry operators, researchers, regulators and consumers.

The conference is expected to focus on pressing food safety challenges and practical measures to improve the safety of food consumed across Lagos State.

The General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo, described the conference as an important platform for increasing public awareness and improving food safety practices.

Solebo urged Lagosians and other stakeholders to participate actively in the conference and discussions on food safety and consumer protection.

Experts, Industry Leaders to Tackle Food Safety Challenges

The conference will feature a keynote address by Adeniyi Adedayo Odugbemi, Global Director of Quality and Food Safety at Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), United States.

Nurah T. Oseni, a food and cosmetics scientist, researcher and lecturer in the Department of Food Technology at Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, will also participate as a guest speaker.

The panel session will be moderated by Rasaq Oke, a Nigerian food scientist, entrepreneur and industry professional with more than 20 years of experience across the food, beverage, agro-allied and food tourism sectors.

Panellists include Kikelomo Amoreoluwa, a food scientist, safety advocate and agro-processing entrepreneur with experience in academia, industry, research and non-profit leadership.

Also expected on the panel is Akinyele Ogunji, Principal Research Officer at the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), who has more than 15 years of experience in food research, product development and food quality assurance.

Moyosore Onalaja, a technical product innovation, quality and regulatory leader with more than 20 years of experience in the FMCG and food industry, will also participate in the panel discussion.

LASCOPA Urges Lagosians to Know Their Consumer Rights

Solebo said the conference was not limited to professionals in the food industry but was also designed for consumers across Lagos State.

He urged residents to use the opportunity to improve their knowledge of food safety and consumer rights.

According to him, access to safe food is fundamental to public health and consumer welfare.

He said LASCOPA remained committed to ensuring that consumers were informed, protected and empowered to make appropriate decisions.

Solebo also encouraged members of the public to submit suggestions on food safety and consumer protection through the agency’s designated email channels.

He said consumer complaints and grievances could also be submitted to the agency for appropriate attention.

Conference to Showcase Food Safety Innovations, Solutions

Beyond the expert sessions, the conference will feature an exhibition of goods, products and services from businesses and professionals in the sector.

The exhibition will give participants an opportunity to discover food safety innovations and interact directly with businesses and other industry stakeholders.

Solebo said the event would provide a platform for stakeholders to move beyond identifying food safety challenges to developing practical solutions.

He urged participants to use the conference to strengthen collaboration among regulators, industry players, researchers and consumers.

The event will also be live-streamed through the Lagos State Government and LASCOPA social media platforms, allowing members of the public who cannot attend physically to follow the proceedings.

Solebo urged all stakeholders to make the conference a platform for advancing the goal of “Safe Food Everywhere” in Lagos State.