Nigeria’s Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina (CON) has commended the University (FUNAAB) for being at the fore-front of the quest and realization of production and commercialization of Cassava Bread in the country.
Arrowed form Right: Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, FUNAAB Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Bandele Oyewole and the the President, Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST), Prof. Lateef Sanni and other stakeholders displaying cassava bread at the forum.
The Minister spoke at a One Day National Cassava Stakeholders’ Forum on High Quality Cassava Flour Inclusion composite Flour Production in Nigeria, held at NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
Addressing Stakeholders and participants at the Forum titled, “Cassava Bread Production in Nigeria: Viability, Sustainability and Challenges”, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, declared with joy, “cassava bread has come to stay in Nigeria”.
Speaking further, Dr. Adesina expatiated, “cassava bread is not a political decision, it is an economic decision. We are not just trying to make it work, it is already working”.
“Commercialization of cassava bread is not what we are talking about, it is already happening. We have succeeded in going beyond production and pilot testing of cassava bread to commercialization”, he added.
Thereafter, the Minister paused a bit, directed his gaze at FUNAAB Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole and commended the University for being at the Vanguard of the evolution, production and commercialization of cassava bread.
He specifically thanked the Country Manager of Cassava: Adding Value for Africa (C:AVA), Professor Lateef Sanni for his “untiring efforts” at making cassava bread a reality.
The Minister who recalled that a week before the forum, FUNAAB held a Workshop where Master Bakers and other stakeholders were trained on cassava bread production, urged the University not to relent in its support of President Jonathan’s transformation agenda.
Revisiting the issue of cassava flour inclusion in composite flour production, Dr. Adesina disclosed that “though Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava in the world, President Jonathan’s administration want our dear nation to become the largest processor of cassava in the world”.The stakeholders’ forum, organized by Professor Lateef Sanni led Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology, in partnership with FUNAAB and Cassava: Adding Value for Africa was well attended.
Besides, the Forum also lent credence to the fact that cassava bread has indeed come to stay as breads, chips, cakes, meat pies, sausage rolls, among others that were made with cassava were massively exhibited by UTC and other master bakers from all over Nigeria.
As a matter of fact, the Minister for Agriculture and FUNAAB’s Vice-Chancellor led others in doing justice (eating) to the cassava bread and snacks.
