November 07, (THEWILL) – Over thirty foreign students from ten countries from the West and Central African Region are studying different programs at the postgraduate level at the Center for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER), Benue State University, Makurdi.
Vice Chancellor of Benue State University, Prof. Joe Tor Iorpuu, who made the disclosure at the 10th celebration of CEFTER in Makurdi on Friday, noted such students will graduate as alumni and will remain as ambassadors of the university.
“The direction CEFTER is taking now confirms with the strategic goals of the vision of the executive governor of Benue State, Revd Fr Hyacinth Alia, which is to expand the university as well as support innovative concepts.”
According to him, the World Bank has had strategic collaboration in the execution of projects such as AFD France, the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Association of African Universities (AAU).
Professor Iorpuu noted that despite challenges, CEFTER is thriving, meeting its project objective of enhancing the quality of higher education in West and Central Africa.
“This overall project goal promotes the university vision to become the university of first choice in Africa and this can be achieved through high-quality programme delivery”, he stated.
While acknowledging two former vice Chancellors of the university, Charity Angya and Moses Kembe, the Vice-chancellor, said CEFTER’s growth and expansion are founded on three pillars such as learning, evolving and refining.
Chairman of the occasion and former Vice-chancellor of the institution, Prof. Paul Akase Sorkaa, noted that CEFTER has lived and is delivering on its mandate of controlling post-harvest in both the Central and the West African Region.
He said the centre operates in three faculties and seven departments and training PhD and Masters of Science in various fields such as food Technology, Food science, food processing, biotechnology, and agriculture extension, among others.
In a goodwill message, Centre Leader CEFTER, Benue State University Makurdi, Prof. Barnabas Ikyo, thanked Benue State University for choosing to fight food post-harvest losses in the state and the nation in general.
He pointed out that the CEFTER partnership between AOPOLY and Benue State University has ignited knowledge sharing and technology transfer, which is a necessary tool for problem-solving and national development.
Professor Ikyo listed some of the benefits the institution has enjoyed as a partner including renovation of lecture hall ll, staff development/fellowship, 11 PhD and 6 Masters, among others.
Earlier, the chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Prof. Charity Angya, thanked all for making it to the event.
