Last Updated on April 7, 2025 by Olasunkanmi Olajide
By Olasunkanmi Olajide & Joy Adeyiga
Building on its commitment to agricultural revitalisation through strategic collaborations, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has taken another significant step forward, today, April 2, 2025, as the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, commissioned the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) Post-Harvest Hub, a landmark initiative aimed at enhancing post-harvest management and strengthening food security. The development followed a series of impactful partnerships, including the recently commissioned Alumni Farm Hub.
The newly established hub, also known as the Agricultural Research Outreach Centre boasts advanced infrastructure, including a Silo, a Loading Auger, a Parabolic Shape Solar Dryer (PSSD), and a Processing Centre equipped with three smoking kilns and five NSPRI Hermetic Steel Drums. Developed through a strategic collaboration between FUNAAB and NSPRI, the facility was designed to significantly advance post-harvest management within the University and beyond.
During the commissioning ceremony, Prof. Kehinde expressed profound appreciation to the Executive Director of NSPRI, Prof. Lateef Sanni, and the Institute’s management for selecting FUNAAB as a beneficiary of the initiative. He underscored the hub’s value for researchers and students, affirming that it would be fully utilised. While the facility is housed within the College of Food Science and Human Ecology (COLFHEC), he assured that its services would be accessible to all members of the University Community.
Prof. Sanni, in his address, highlighted the significance of the project’s location within FUNAAB. He noted that while NSPRI’s post-harvest interventions had traditionally focused on rural communities, his administration prioritised engaging universities to enhance accessibility and maximise technology utilisation. Commenting on the Solar Dryer, the Executive Director said it was versatile and capable of preserving nearly all agricultural products.
Earlier in her welcome remarks, the Dean of COLFHEC, Prof. Adebukunola Omemu, commended NSPRI’s commitment to post-harvest innovation. She stressed that the new hub would serve as a critical resource for improving food storage, processing, and preservation techniques. She reiterated the necessity of mitigating post-harvest losses to maintain agricultural produce quality, nutritional value, and economic viability.
Prof. Omemu also emphasised the facility’s role in fostering hands-on learning opportunities for students while facilitating research collaborations with farmers, food processors, and industry stakeholders. She acknowledged the Vice-Chancellor’s unwavering support, noting that his dedication to research-driven solutions was instrumental in bringing the project to fruition.
Meanwhile, the commissioning of the NSPRI Post-Harvest Hub marked a significant milestone for FUNAAB, reinforcing the University’s commitment to agricultural innovation and sustainable food security solutions.
The event witnessed the presence of Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments and Units, alongside NSPRI management staff and other dignitaries, including foremost members of the FUNAAB Alumni Association.
Pictures are attached below 👇
Credit: Gbolahan Lawal
