CEFTER’s 2023 FOOD WEEK AND EXHIBITION: SHOWCASING SCIENTIFIC INNOVATIONS FOR CONTROL OF POSTHARVEST FOOD LOSSES IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA

By
Jacob Shagbaor Suemo

CEFTER recently assembled key stakeholders in the Nigerian agricultural value chain to her official complex to witness this year’s annual student activity – FOOD WEEK and Exhibition. The expectation was to have distinguished invited guests assess the food processing technologies invented by students using Centre facilities and laboratories.

Declaring the ceremony opened, the Vice Chancellor Benue State University, Prof. Joe-Tor Iorapuu who was represented by the Dean Faculty of Sciences Prof Bernard Atu expressed satisfaction at the quality of efforts that had gone into preparing and organizing the ceremony by the various groups describing it as a product of the commitment and visionary leadership of the Centre.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Centre Leader and Director CEFTER, Dr. Barnabas Ikyo explained that the student activity was aimed at exposing students to practical problem solving platforms targeting product development from common food crops.

The Centre Leader revealed that products exhibited by the students had been processed in quality laboratories with world class equipment and very healthy production environments. He assured that CEFTER would note the novelty displayed by the students and properly document and eventually develop same accordingly in the light of the postharvest control areas targeted by the innovations.

In her remarks before leading distinguished invited guests to the exhibition stand, the Deputy Centre Leader and Deputy Director Operations Prof. Gillian Ogbene Igbum said the students were divided into seven groups and assigned mentors respectively to guide them along the processing stages of their assigned food crops up to the exhibition of the finished products.

Prof. Igbum emphasized that the Centre takes the event seriously because the products developed were born out of carefully applied scientific research protocols and laboratory sessions.

The students had in the cause of the food week been exposed to various lecture sessions from hired professional consultants in various fields including, food processing, budgeting, patenting, royalties and food marketing.

In attendance at the event in representative capacities were the Hon Commissioners for Benue State Ministries of; Agriculture and Natural resources, Trade and Investment and the ministry of Education. All of the representatives appreciated CEFTER Leadership for the initiative and called for the greater participation of industry players to power the innovations into projects that would collectively enhance the agricultural value chain of the West African sub region.

Other CEFTER Partners in attendance were the Rector, Akperan Orshi Polytechnic Gboko, SERAPH Oil, Hule and sons and BERNADA respectively among others.

Highlights of the occasion were goodwill messages form invited guests, a tour of the exhibition tables and presentation from the seven group leaders and group pictures.

By

Jacob Shagbaor Suemo

A team comprising of representatives of Association of African Universities (AAU) and the National Universities Commission (NUC) paid Benue state University Centre for Food Technology and Research a scheduled verification visit to ascertain the level of implementation of certain aspects of the ACE Development Impact Project.

Receiving the visitors at the Senate Chambers of Benue State University in company of other principal officers, the Vice Chancellor Professor Tor Joe Iorapuu appreciated them for the visit assuring that CEFTER has so far done well and the team’s visit would further validate the assertion. He wished them well and assured of the maximum cooperation of management to ensure a hitch free verification exercise.

Verification Team from the AAU

He further appreciated the World Bank and AAU for situating the project in the University. Prof Iorapuu explained that the project has been beneficial to the institution which has made the State Government hand over the ADC building to the university to further continue the good work this project has brought to the institution.

In her remark, on the purpose of the visit, Head of the joint Team, Dr Gabrielle Hansen appreciated BSU management for the warm reception and expressed delight for being among the Team and for visiting the institution for the 2nd time.

She stated that the objective of the visit is to ensure that the DLI 7.6 (ICT Infrastructure) is being attended to appropriately and what is expected to be done is correctly executed as expected. She explained that their assignment is merely a facts finding mission after which a report would be sent to the AAU for appropriate necessary action. The Team Leader however explained that it was a friendly visit and a well-known routine on the ACE Impact project.

The NUC representative on the team, Mr Peter Tobrise clarified that the visit was to ensure that DLI 7.6 is carried out seamlessly without challenges and that the team is ready to offer ready assistance where needed during the visit. He concluded by presenting Dr. John Attah’s goodwill message to BSU Management.

Earlier while presenting the visitors to the Vice Chancellor, the Centre Leader and Director CEFTER, Dr. Barnabas Iko appreciated the Vice Chancellor for granting them audience at a very short notice. He said under DL 1 7.6, CEFTER has subscribed 1Gbs internet for the entire University and also installed 10 lecture halls five (5) of which are fully digitized. The Centre Leader affirmed that the meeting was part of the prerequisites for the ACE Development Impact Project hence scheduled.

On the joint team were following members, Mrs Gabrielle Hansen (Team leader) AAU, Schenineda Ankomah AAU, Kwesi Yanksun, Consultant for AAU, Sunday Folayan, Consultant for AAU, Peter Tobrise – NUC and Oluwatobi Fowora, NUC

While from the University, The Vice Chancellor, Principal Officers, CEFTER Project Team and Management officers were on ground to receive the visitors.

Highlight of the visit were group photographs, facility visits and a heartfelt exchange of pleasantries.

CEFTER INNOVATION COMPETITION CALL FOR ENTRIES

INTRODUCTION

The Centre of Excellence for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER) was established by the Benue State University (BSU) with the support of the World Bank to address the challenges of post-harvest losses and other technologies in the food value chain. Continue reading →