…Sign MoU
By Emeka Oluka & Joy Adeyiga
To ensure sustainable agricultural practices that resonate across the nation, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) are set to pull resources and expertise together to achieve a common goal in Post-Harvest Storage.
The above was envisioned during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Post-harvest Storage by FUNAAB and NSPRI.
Speaking at the meeting held recently at the Vice-Chancellor’s Conference Room A, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde expressed satisfaction with the achievement, noting that it would provide an open door for countless and endless opportunities that will outlive the current administration.
Calling for more collaborations, the Vice-Chancellor stated that FUNAAB is opened to more meaningful partnerships with the outside world.
The Vice-Chancellor said that he had no doubts that the collaboration would be fruitful and productive, as it would go a long way in dealing with one of the major challenges faced by farmers, especially in Nigeria.
Prof. Kehinde expressed the University’s desire to achieve more, noting its readiness and eagerness to have more international partnerships, as he underscored the willingness of students and staff to research or invest in storage.
Earlier, the Executive Director, NSPRI and a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development (DVC, D) of FUNAAB, Prof. Lateef Sanni expressed delight at NSPRI’s partnership with the University, which he noted was a way of giving back to the system which he has always been part of.
He disclosed that the collaboration would serve as a catalyst for transformative initiatives that would address key challenges in the storage and utilisation of agricultural produce.
Prof. Sanni revealed that plans are underway for the Institute to organise its first Post-harvest Conference, expressing the Institute’s desire to have FUNAAB which is one of the leading Post-harvest universities in the country as a participant.
Commending the Vice-Chancellor for his numerous achievements over the last year, he expressed confidence in the capability of Prof. Kehinde’s leadership over the University.
Similarly, the Director, Research Operation NSPRI, Dr. Adeola Oyebanji, and Head of the Post-harvest Engineering Research Department, Engr. Michael Omodara respectively appreciated the University for releasing Prof. Sanni whom they both described as a man of many parts.
Meanwhile, NSPRI as an institute has the mandate to be a leading provider of agricultural post-harvest solutions in Nigeria and its West African sub-region.
The Institute was established in 1948 as West African Stored Products Research Unit (WASPRU).
It had one of its duties as assessing the quality of exportable crops from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra-Leone and the Gambia to the United Kingdom (UK) during the colonial era, and was rebranded ‘NSPRI’ following Nigeria’s independence in 1960.
