Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has approved the establishment of the Faculty of Agriculture for Benue State University, BSU, to complement the Centre for Food Technology and Research, BSU-CEFTER, which was established 10 years ago.
This was disclosed on Friday in Makurdi by the Vice Chancellor of BSU, Prof. Joe Iorapuu, during the 10th anniversary of BSU-CEFTER.
BSU-CEFTER is a project funded by the World Bank to address post-harvest management issues and offer postgraduate education.
Prof. Iorapuu said the faculty will assist BSU-CEFTER in its food technology innovation, which currently has six mini factories with the capacity to produce quality cassava flour products and tomato paste and fabricate food processing equipment.
Iorapuu added that the faculty would offer more admission spaces for aspiring undergraduates and act as an entrepreneurship skills acquisition centre.
He said that offering agriculture and farming as major disciplines will help students to understand food production and management.
“This knowledge adds to the student’s exposure and helps them better understand the seasonality of crops, harvesting and transportation,” he said.
Prof. Iorapuu added that when established, the faculty will offer insights into the roles of agriculture in supporting livelihoods through food, habitat, jobs, provision of raw materials, and building strong economies.
“Agriculture can help reduce poverty, raise incomes and improve food security for 80 per cent of the world’s poor who live in rural areas and work mainly in farming,” he added.
He acknowledged the contributions of former leaders of the university, which paved the way for the project to succeed, adding that the university would sustain the centre even after the World Bank-funded project rounded off.
He further reaffirmed the university’s commitment to excellence in offering qualitative education, research, and innovation.
According to him, over 30 international students from 10 West and Central African countries have enrolled for postgraduate studies in BSU-CEFTER.
In his remarks, the centre leader of BSU-CEFTER, Prof. Barnabas Ikyo, expressed commitment to providing sustainable practices to enhance economic development and food security.
He disclosed that CEFTER Foods Nigeria Ltd, a subsidiary of the centre, has generated over $1 million in revenue over the past decade.
Ikyo added that BSU-CEFTER has supported 11 startups, established food processing industries and supported refugees and internally displaced persons to become self-reliant, among other interventions.