Section 5: Admission to membership.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a person is eligible for enrolment as a registered professional by the Council in the categories of –
(a) Fellow; or
(b) Member.
(2) A person admitted into the membership of the profession by the Council, in any of the categories specified in subsection (1), shall be registered by the Registrar and be entitled to use the title after his name, If-
(a) in the case of a Fellow -
(i) is not less than 40 years of age,
(ii) has, at least, 15 years of relevant working experience in the food profession,
(iii) is registered as a Certified Food Scientist of Nigeria and has been qualified to be so registered for at least 10 years and he satisfies the Council that, for the preceding period of 15 years, he has been in practice as a food professional,
(iv) is a fit and proper person to be enrolled, and
(v) his application is sponsored by two members of the Council, both of whom shall be fellows of NIFST; and
(b) in the case of Certified Food Scientist of Nigeria and be entitled to the use of the title -
(i) he is not less than 20 years of age,
(ii) he holds the qualification approved for registration into the Food Profession,
(iii) he is a fit and proper person to be enrolled,
(iv) his application is sponsored by two members of the Council who have been registered as food professionals for five years,
(v) he is recommended by the Governing Council of NIFST, and
(vi) he satisfies other conditions prescribed by the Council, including examinations, tests and internship.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), the Council may accord other worthy persons such other status of the profession as the Council may determine.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2), all members excluding licentiates, corporate and honorary members of NIFST whose names appear in the most recent edition of its directory of members and any person who has been a member of NIFST as at the date of commencement of this Act or who but for this Act would have been qualified to be admitted as a member (if NIFST within six months from the commencement of this Act is deemed enrolled into the register of Food Professionals of the food profession in their various membership categories and years of membership in NIFST on fulfilling other requirement prescribed by the Council.