Federal College of Agricultural Produce Technology, FCAPT, Kano, has established a company in line with the provisions of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, ARCN, Act, to produce tomato paste, quick meals and kunun tsamiya, a traditional local beverage.
Its Provost, Dr Muhammad Gwaram, who stated this in Kano recently, explained that the college has acquired state-of-the-art equipment, including a fluidised bed dryer, precision multipurpose carbinate dryer and an automated granules and powdered packaging machine to support the production process.
Besides, Gwaram said “The company has been registered with all critical regulatory bodies such as NAFDAC, CAC and SON. Our products will soon be available in markets across the country.”
According to him, once fully operational, the company will recruit students from the college, allowing them to apply their expertise and gain industry experience.
Gwaram, who also highlighted the pace of transformation under his five-year leadership, said the college now has 13 PhD holders and 33 MSc academic staff, and offers 19 fully accredited programmes in line with the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, standards.
Furthermore, he said the college has trained youths across rural communities in modern agricultural practices, processing, storage and preservation techniques, empowering them to become self-employed or immediately employable after graduation.
Companies, he added “often reach out to us requesting the names of our best students for employment opportunities. This shows the confidence industries have in the quality of our graduates.”
He pointed out that 1,409 youths from the six-geopolitical zones have benefited from various training programmes organised by FCAPT with a multiplier effect of enhancing manpower in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
In this vein, Gwaram said the college is in partnership with GIZ, Indorama Fertiliser, UNESCO, International Potato Centre and others, including the Centre for Community Development and Research, Self Help Africa, ITF, as well as NBTE.
In line with the transformation agenda, he said “Staff welfare is of paramount importance in this college, as they benefit from cash and food items on special occasions to boost their morale.”
Gwaram then reaffirmed the college’s commitment to staff development and welfare, noting that a significant number of staff have attended local and international seminars, conferences and workshops.
