To augment the Benue State University–CEFTER Centre for Food Technology and Research (BSU–CEFTER), which was founded a decade ago, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has given his approval to the creation of the Benue State University–Faculty of Agriculture (BSU–CEFTER).
During the celebration of BSU-CEFTER’s tenth anniversary, this was revealed on Friday in Makurdi by Prof. Joe Iorapuu, the Vice Chancellor of BSU.
The World Bank is supporting BSU-CEFTER, a project that aims to provide postgraduate education and tackle post-harvest management challenges.
Currently, BSU-CEFTER has six micro factories that can make high-quality tomato paste and cassava flour products, as well as food processing equipment, according to Prof. Iorapuu.
The faculty will also help with food technology innovation. Additionally, the faculty will serve as a hub for the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills and increase the number of admission spots available to ambitious undergraduates, according to Iorapuu.
He stated that students will gain a better understanding of food production and management if agriculture and farming are offered as majors.
He explained that by teaching them about the seasons, they will have a better grasp of harvesting, transportation, and agricultural rotation.
According to Prof. Iorapuu, once the faculty is in place, they will provide valuable insights into the ways in which agriculture contributes to people’s livelihoods by providing food, housing, employment opportunities, raw materials, and a solid economic foundation.
“For the majority of the world’s poor—those residing in rural areas and primarily engaged in farming—agricultural practices have the potential to alleviate poverty, increase incomes, and enhance food security,” he emphasized.
In his remarks, he thanked the university’s previous administration for their work in making the project a success and assured the public that the center will continue operating long after the World Bank-funded initiative ended.
He went on to say that the institution will always strive to be the best in providing high-quality education, research, and innovation.
He asserts that BSU-CEFTER has thirty international students enrolled for graduate studies from ten countries in West and Central Africa.
Prof. Barnabas Ikyo, head of BSU-CEFTER, promised in his speech that the institution will provide sustainable techniques to boost economic growth and food security.
He said that, during the last decade, the center’s subsidiary, CEFTER Foods Nigeria Ltd, had made over $1 million.
Among other things, BSU-CEFTER has helped eleven enterprises get off the ground, created food processing industries, and helped displaced people and refugees become self-sufficient, according to Ikyo.