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About

A career on the double-edged plate.

Prof. Olutayo Sunday Shokunbi integrates nutrition and toxicology, bringing the molecular, the policy and the human together in research that informs healthier communities.

Executive summary

Two decades of research at the intersection of nutrition and toxicology.

Olutayo S. Shokunbi is a Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry and Toxicology with more than two decades of research and academic experience in nutritional science across Nigeria and South Africa. His research focuses on the surveillance of essential minerals, toxicants, and emerging contaminants in commonly consumed foods and underutilised legumes; complementary food formulation; dietary intake assessment in adolescents and adults; maternal and child nutrition; and food safety.

His scholarly work also addresses the safety and optimisation of expressed breast milk, hypertension in adolescents, nutrient composition of foods, and the biochemical effects of plant bioactive compounds on liver, kidney, cardiovascular and overall health. More recently, his research has expanded to include microplastics and other emerging contaminants in foods, beverages and environmental matrices. He currently leads multidisciplinary research on the development and evaluation of functional foods for the management of diabetes, obesity, lactation challenges and related metabolic conditions.

He has strong technical expertise in graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry, flame AAS, and flame photometry. He has authored 40 local and international peer-reviewed publications, including 18 in Scopus-indexed journals, and has provided academic leadership through the coordination of postgraduate programmes. He served as Deputy Provost of the Babcock University College of Postgraduate Studies from August 2021, later as Acting Provost, and subsequently as Provost until February 2026, and as Coordinator of the Doctoral Academy of Nigeria.

What distinguishes Professor Shokunbi's approach is his integration of nutrition and toxicology: a dual lens that gives a more holistic understanding of modern dietary challenges. His research is especially relevant to developing regions, where food quality, economic factors, environmental exposure and health outcomes are tightly interconnected. Driven by a commitment to impact, he advances science that informs policy, improves food safety and promotes healthier communities.

See the research areas

Education

From Lagos classrooms to doctoral nutrition science.

Career

From Lecturer Iin 2014 to Provost & national doctoral coordinator.

01 / 04

2024→ Present

Babcock University

Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry & Toxicology

  • Teaching and postgraduate supervision
  • Acting Provost, then Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies
  • Coordinator, Doctoral Academy of Nigeria (Committee of Provosts and Deans of Postgraduate Colleges and Schools in Nigerian Universities)
02 / 04

2021→ 2023

Babcock University

Associate Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry & Toxicology

  • Teaching and postgraduate supervision
  • Director of SIWES
  • Deputy Provost and later Acting Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies
03 / 04

2018→ 2020

Babcock University

Senior Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry

  • Teaching, supervision and mentoring
  • Postgraduate Coordinator of the Department
04 / 04

2014→ 2017

Babcock University

Lecturer I, Department of Biochemistry

  • Teaching, supervision and mentoring
  • Chairman, Departmental Examination and Result Committee

From the field

The work moves between the bench, the lectern and the road.

Three scenes a year in the practice — the data is collected here, not at a desk.

  • At the bench — Spectrophotometry / wet lab

  • At the lectern — Teaching / postgraduate cohort

  • In the field — Sampling / community

Career highlights

Eight milestones that shaped the practice.

  1. 01

    Built a strong body of peer-reviewed publications across nutritional sciences, food safety, toxicology and biochemistry.

  2. 02

    Recognised as an authority in nutritional biochemistry and toxicology within Nigeria and internationally.

  3. 03

    Served as Deputy Provost, Acting Provost and substantive Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies at Babcock University, advancing postgraduate education and research excellence.

  4. 04

    Coordinated the Doctoral Academy of Nigeria, strengthening doctoral training, research capacity and academic leadership development across Nigerian universities.

  5. 05

    Mentored and supervised many undergraduate and postgraduate students who have progressed significantly in academia and professional practice.

  6. 06

    Contributed to postgraduate curriculum development, academic programme design and international collaborations.

  7. 07

    Sustained portfolio of peer review for local and international journals in nutrition, food safety, toxicology and biochemistry.

  8. 08

    Pioneered the development of functional foods from plant resources for managing non-communicable diseases.

Philosophy

Science as service.

A long-held conviction shapes the work: Africa already holds the resources to feed and heal her people. What is missing is the collective will to harness them, and the rigour to do it safely.

Prof. Shokunbi's work is driven by a commitment to scientific excellence, integrity and societal impact. He believes research should go beyond academic trajectory to address real-world challenges across nutrition, food safety, toxicology, environmental health and human well-being. He practises ethical research conduct as a non-negotiable foundation for that work.

Passionate about mentorship, innovation and leadership through service, he is dedicated to developing future scientists, advancing impactful research, and promoting evidence-based solutions that improve public health and sustainable food systems.

At the core of his philosophy is a conviction: Nigeria and indeed Africa hold abundant food and herb resources sufficient to maintain and manage the health of the people who live there. What is required is collective action. Bio-scientists, physicians, pharmacists, entrepreneurs, government agencies and leaders at every level must join hands to develop indigenous medicine for the health of all, at affordable rates. Safer food systems, sound science, harnessed plant resources and responsible leadership are essential to build healthier communities and a more sustainable future.

Professional memberships

Anchored in scholarly communities.