A groundbreaking digital system designed to ensure the quality and safety of consumer staples is being hailed by industry leaders and regulators as a major step forward for food security in Nigeria. The Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus (DFQT+) platform, which tackles issues around food enrichment, is simplifying compliance and boosting transparency across the food processing sector, particularly for edible oils.
Speaking at the 2025 Digital Lab Workshop, organised by TechnoServe and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), stakeholders confirmed that the system is a ‘game-changer’. By leveraging digital tools to provide live data, the platform creates a shared view of the fortification process, promoting greater accountability from manufacturers.
For the production teams on the factory floor, the impact has been immediate and positive. Samson Rindap, a Quality Assurance Manager at Apple and Pears Ltd, noted that the platform has significantly raised the standard of operation. He explained that it “has awakened awareness of fortification,” compelling producers to “take responsibility for their processes, from the receiving to the transformation and to the analysis.” Similarly, Ikechukwu Uche, a Laboratory Manager at PZ Wilmar, highlighted the platform’s value in providing “real-time results of fortification” for management, which has also “lessened the stress” on laboratory staff.
This seamless data flow has equally revolutionised the work of government agencies responsible for consumer safety. The DFQT+ platform was developed with input from key regulators, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Terdoo Anom, Assistant Chief Standard Engineer at SON, stated that the agency adopted the platform early to combat non-compliance issues that were previously difficult to trace. The digital solution provides “traceability from producers, importers to the end user,” allowing them to pinpoint the source of quality issues within the food chain.
The benefits extend beyond mere compliance, improving trust and efficiency between different regulatory bodies. Tijanni Abiola, an Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer at NAFDAC, confirmed that the platform has helped to ensure “better reliability and improving confidence between the agencies.” Critically, it allows regulators to share real-time data, enabling them to execute verification and compliance monitoring “just sitting down at our office.”
The successful deployment of such technology holds a significant economic angle for the country. Food fortification the addition of essential vitamins and minerals to commonly consumed foods is widely regarded as one of the most cost-effective public health interventions globally, with returns estimated to be up to 100 times the initial cost. Micronutrient deficiencies, often called ‘hidden hunger,’ are thought to cost low- and middle-income economies billions annually in lost economic output and reduced cognitive capacity. By guaranteeing the quality of fortified staples, the DFQT+ platform secures these human capital and productivity benefits, turning a public health initiative into a driver of economic stability. Furthermore, improved digital traceability is key to reducing post-harvest losses, enhancing supply chain efficiency, and increasing market access for Nigerian products, both at home and abroad.
Looking to the future, the developers stressed the importance of long-term sustainability. Ayodele Tella, the LSFF Portfolio Lead for TechnoServe, affirmed that her organisation, in collaboration with GAIN, is committed to ensuring the system is sustainable and will ultimately be taken over and owned by the country. She stated their commitment to leveraging technology to ensure that “every individual benefits from the promise of a properly fortified food.” The Federal Ministry of Health’s Director of Nutrition, Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, echoed this sentiment, appreciating the platform as a reaffirmation of the shared national commitment to improving the health and social well-being of Nigerians, noting that the country’s fortification efforts, which began with salt in 1992, continue to expand to address micro-nutrient deficiencies at a population level.
