Nigeria Lost N3.5trn To Poor Food Processing –Varsity Don

A university professor, Prof. Ode Ojowu, has lamented the adverse impact of post-harvest losses on Benue State and Nigeria, arising from poor processing and storage. These losses totalled N3.5 trillion in 2020 alone.

Prof Ojowu, who is also a member of the presidential advisory committee, made this known during the 10th anniversary of the Benue State University Centre for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER) and appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure the centre‘s sustainability and control post-harvest losses to encourage food security.

In a remark, the Vice Chancellor of BSU, Prof. Tor Iorapuu, commended CEFTER for making significant progress through attaining national and international accreditation, with over thirty international students studying at the Centre.

He says, „Over thirty (30) foreign students from ten different countries from the West and Central African Region are studying different programs at the Postgraduate level, and they will graduate as Alumni of BSU and will remain ambassadors of the University.“

He said, „On behalf of the entire structures of BSU, we want to use this event to once again acknowledge the government of Benue State for establishing the University Thirty-two (32) years ago and providing the enabling environment to achieve its desired purpose and philosophy.“

As we celebrate CEFTER BSU at 10, we reaffirm our commitment to excellence in higher education, research, and innovations; I want to congratulate the teams that made all these possible, our students, and stakeholders on this milestone.“

In a welcome address, the leader and director of CEFTER, Prof. Barnabas Ikyo, informed that the Centre has trained 531 Cameroon pm⁶ refugees on Agricultural produce handling and preservation alongside 130 Agricultural Extension workers who will, in turn, step the training down to farmers.

Prof Ikyo expressed commitment to ensuring CEFTER‘s economic development, food security, and sustainable practices, even as he informed us that the centre has generated over $1 million in revenue over the past decade.

CEFTER has also supported 11 startups, establishing new food processing industries and supported refugees and internally displaced individuals to be self-sustaining, among others.“