THE CENTRE FOR TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH,
BENUE STATE UNIVERSITY, MAKURDI-BENUE STATE
Benue State University, Makurdi was awarded one of the
22ACEs in West and Central Africa thorugh a highly competitive and transparent
selection process and established the Centre for Food Technology and Research
(CEFTER), which focuses on the control of Post Harvest losses. The world Bank
brought the project to address the problems of higher education in West and
Central Africa, which has not been a priority for the past two decades.
The mandate of CEFTER is to promote teaching, research and
extension in Post-Harvest Services, enhance agricultural productivity and
industrial output for the socio-economic advancement of Nigeria and Africa.
The Centre has a research focus: Development and Utilization
of improved technologies to reduce Post Harvest food losses.
The educational, research and outreach goals of CEFTER are:
v
To develop a critical mass of well-trained
students in the control of Post-Harvest losses
v
To empower African researchers to identify
technologies that will reduce Post Harvest losses
v
Development of technologies through applied
research for reducing Post Harvest losses
v
Engage communities, farmers and industries in
the development and dissemination of technologies in Post-Harvest losses.
WHAT DEFINES US AS A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE?
We fill the existing gaps within academic, research, and
quality of graduates and out reach programs. The UN report (Costa, 2013) states
that the last 30 years, about 95% of investment in agricultural research has
been focused on increasing production with only 5% on reducing Post Harvest
Losses. It is estimated that Sub-Sahara Africa losses food valued at about $4.0
billion annually due to post-harvest losses.
Contaminated food due to poor storage results in 1.5 billion
cases of diarrhea leading to 3 million death yearly.
As an agriculture-based center of excellence we shall be
judged by:
v
Quality of graduates we produce, whether they
are employable or not
v
Relevant research that benefits formers,
industry and society in general.
OUR COURSES
Our courses are designed to address Post-Harvest problems of
the West and Central Africa Sub-Regions.
We offer Master’s Degree Programme and PhD Program at the
Centre, with run from 24 Months and 36 Months respectively. We also mount
Postgraduate Diploma and Short Courses in food related disciplines. The list of
Post graduate Courses include:
Food Science and
Technology (MSc & PhD)
The program is anchored on training middle and senior level
scientists capable of working effectively in the food industry, food commodity
research institutes, universities and other government establishments to
address challenges related to food production; particularly in reducing food
spoilage at postharvest periods. In addition, graduates of this programme can
create self-employment and job opportunities for others as well as serve as
manpower for emerging food industries.
Rural Sociology and
Agricultural Extension (MSc & PhD)
When successfully completed, graduates should be able to
deal with issues relating to post-harvest losses with the view of making
contribution to national development effort as a Teacher, Researcher,
Administrator, or Entrepreneur.
Bio-statistics
Programme (MSc)
The high level manpower development in Biostatistics will
enable the recipients compete favourably in industries, government parastatals,
especially in Food processing, Food preservation, Agricultural and
Pharmaceutical industries as well as economic planning departments, educational
institutions, consultancy services, etc. the graduates of the programme will be
trained to be self-employed and self-reliant is also embedded in the training.
Food Chemistry (MSc
& PhD)
Graduates of the course can be employed as Food Researchers
in University Institutes to educate students as well as employees of the State
or Federal Government and Food Industries.
Food Processing
Technology (MSc & PhD)
Graduate will gain competitively advantage for employment in
both the private and public sectors of the Food and Agro-Processing industries
or may be motivated to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities.
Radiation and Medical
Physics (MSc & PhD)
This programme is tailored toward building a strong
foundation in physics, majority in the aspect of Irradiation Technology.
Graduates will be trained on the application of irradiation in food processing
and preservation as well as safety and maintenance techniques related to
production in the industry.
Post-Harvest
Engineering Technology (MSc)
Experts in this field are needed as Field Extension Staff,
Researchers, Plant Developers and Managers as well as General Entrepreneurs in
the specialized Agricultural business of Food Crop Processing and Preservation.
Post-Harvest
Physiology and Management of Crops (MSc & PhD)
Graduates of the course can gain employment within the
Post-harvest sector of food and agricultural industries, major wholesale;
retail and import/export organization where produce quality is paramount and
were supply objectives are on a global scale.
Food Economic (MSc
& PhD)
This programme is aimed at producing a flow of graduates,
economics, economic theories and the methodology needed to analyze and proffer
solutions to problems relating to agriculture and post-harvest losses of the
local, national and global levels. Ultimately, graduates will be equipped with
the specialized knowledge of food economics to enhance their ability in
contributing yeaning fully to the Nigerian, African and-World economcy.
OUR PARTNERS
University of
Agriculture (UAM), Makurdi.
This is a specialized University of Agriculture, which is
involved in generating technologies in food production, food processing, food
storage and consumption technology. UAM is also actively involved in teaching
and extension services.
Our partnership with
UAM will be on the aspect of training of Center staff and students on food
processing and packaging, development of modules for rural extension services,
crop variety development, Agricultural economics, food transport and storage,
food products development and general academic research and teaching purposes.
UAM will design and mount short courses, MSc and PhD courses on post-harvest
Management and Sciences.
Nigerian stored
Products Research Institute (NSPRI), Ilorin, Nigeria.
This institute, which is under the Ministry of Agriculture,
has the mandate of increasing Nigeria’s agricultural self-reliance through
adequate post-harvest loss prevention. It conducts research into bulk storage
problems of export commodities like cocoa, groundnut, palm oil as well as local
food crops. We have signed an MoU to collaborate with the institute. Our centre
will collaborate with NSPRI in developing short courses, training, internships,
and use of their laboratories.
Benue State
Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (BNARDA), Makrudi, Nigeria.
This is an agency of the Benue State Ministry of
Agriculture, which has the mandate for extension delivery in the State. BNARDA
will develop training for CEFTER staff, students and farmers it will also
accept internship from the Centre. They will play key role on the extension and
dissemination aspect of the project.
Akperan Orshi College
of Agriculture (AOCAY), Yandev, Nigeria
This is a rural-based institution of higher learning,
involved in training middle level extension manpower and extension agents. The
College is vocational and entrepreneurial focused with the capacity to train
personnel in crop production and protection, Agricultural engineering,
extension and economics. The post-harvest agenda is designed to be integrated
into agricultural research and extension services to provide technical advice
and affordable solutions to farmers and private sector players.
AOCAY’s primary role is training of non-curricula based
courses to target beneficiaries on the farm, market and consumers. CEFTER has
developed joint programs to build the manpower to support the value chain
users.
National Root Crops
Research Institute, (NRCRI), Umudike, Nigeria.
National Root Crops Research Institute has the zonal mandate
for the total farming systems, Extension, Research covering root and tuber
crops in South-eastern States of
Nigeria. CEFTETR collaborate with NRCRI will focus on training of middle level
manpower in related topics on extension.
National Cereals
Research Institute (NCRI), Bida, Nigeria. NCRI Bida
The Institute has mandate for Research on Cereal crops. It
conducts research into the genetic improvement and production of the major
stable grain like rice, maize and cowpea as well as overall farming system and
resources management research and extension in the Middle Belt region of
Nigeria. CEFTER collaboration with NCRI focuses on training of middle level
manpower in related topic and on extension in the Middle belt region of
Nigeria. The centre also develop joint courses in food recipes, food processing
and socio economics of food crops.
Liverpool John Moore
University, UK
The University partnership with the centre includes,
e-library and e-learning support. The partnership extends to curricular
development and review, staff development. They will also organize short term
training programmes in relevant topics mainly targeting at internationals of
high education at CEFTER. They will also support the centre to acquire
international accreditations.
Seraph Nigeria
Limited, Makurdi
Seraph is a major producer of vegetable oil from soybeans in
Nigeria. CEFTER partnership with Seraph, aims at developing industry lectures
for CEFTER students, accept internships and develop a joint curricula for
industry based MSc and PhD programs to be hosted at CEFTER.
University of Mkar,
Mkar, Nigeria
The university’s partnership with the Centre includes;
exchange of faculty and students for the purpose of teaching, research and
extension, reciprocal assistance for visiting academic faculty, staff and
students, coordination of research activities, transfer of technology, exchange
of documentation and research materials in fields of mutual interest.
Agudu Farm
Augudu Farms partnership with CEFTER involves training of
CEFTER students in food processing, packaging, storage and value addition.
Being an Agric based industry CEFTER wishes to partnership with Agudu farm for
the purpose of student internship.
Agudu Farm processes cassava into products such as cassava
chips, cassava flour, and maize flour. They are a major supplier of cassava
flour to industries home and restaurants.
Agudu Farms is located in Gboko and it has a suitable
environment to work. The farm has adequate facilities to accommodate and train
PG students.
University of
Greenwich
The University of Greenwich United Kingdom partner with
Benue State University’s Center for Technology and Research CEFTER and the
National Resource Institute (NRI) of university of Greenwich MOU they signed
together in training and the staff development.