The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Muhammad Mahmood Abubakar has approved the appointment of Prof. Lateef Sanni as the Executive Director of Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI).
 
Prof. Sanni obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree (Second Class Upper Division) from the Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) in 1990. In February 1993 and April 1999 (respectively), he obtained his Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degrees from the Department of Food Technology at the University of Ibadan.
 
He began his academic career as an Assistant Lecturer at the Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB) in 1993. He rose through the ranks and was promoted Professor of Food Science and Technology in 2008. He was a former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Development); Dean, College of Food Science and Human Ecology, Director of A.G. Leventis Memorial Centre for Learning (LEMCEL), Deputy Director, the Centre for Human Resources Development (CENHURD) and HOD of Food Science and Technology in FUNAAB.
 
He has supervised over 100 undergraduates, 17 Masters and 34 PhD students, published 136 journal articles, 30 books, 30 conference proceedings, and 1 patent on various aspects of Food Science and Technology, and academic leadership. He is well cited in Google Scholar (5,540, h-index of 38), Scopus 1573, h-index of 21,Research Gate (3248, h-index 32) and 2023 AD Scientific Rankings of 4 912 (2nd best researcher in FUNAAB and the 43rd best researcher in Nigeria).
 
He is a member of the 2020 UK Research and Innovation International Development Peer Review College. He has evaluated 26 Professorial cadres, served as editorial board of the International Journal of Food Science and Technology, and belongs to 12 Learned Societies/Professional Associations. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, International Academy of Food Science and Technology, the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology and 2 more.

He is a recipient of 22 scholarships, fellowships, awards, prizes, honors, and recognition, including the 2011 FUNAAB Research Productivity Award (Senior Academic Category), 2012 FUNAAB Most Outstanding International Ambassador, and 2008 Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Award for Regional Technology Development in Sub-Saharan Africa.
 
Sanni is the Chairman, Steering Committee of African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) and Chairman, Council of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora. He has 32 years of experience as a post-harvest expert on tropical root crops, mostly with the Natural Resources Institute in the United Kingdom, the Association of African Universities, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (where is currently consultant, Project Manager of BASICS II).
 
He is the President of the International Society of Tropical Root Crops, West African Association of Food Science and Technology and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Societal Reformation and Peace Foundation. Sanni and his colleagues have attracted over 30 million US dollars research grants while working with NRI-Greenwich University UK on DFID, EU, BMGF funds, IITA, GAIN, AAU, and McGill University.
 
He is an erudite scholar, passionate innovator, a team player with social skills, dedicated researcher, a mentor, manager, advocator and role model in sustainable development and transformations. He is happily married to an Alumnae and Professor in FUNAAB and blessed with children.