Food Security in Nigeria: FUT Minna, 2 others sign MoU

As part of efforts to ensure food security in Nigeria, the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna and the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

The MoU was signed by both parties on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at the VC’s Conference Room, FUT, Minna, Main Campus.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta endorsed the documents on behalf of the University while the Executive Director, NCRI, Badeggi, Dr. Aliyu Umar signed for his Institute.

Speaking shortly after appending his signature to the document, the Vice Chancellor, while observing that the country was yet to take the knowledge economy seriously, added that one way of addressing the issue was through such synergies by both institutions.

Prof. Kuta maintained that even though the University trains manpower for the nation, in today’s competitive world, it would not be out of place to collaborate with a reputable institute like NCRI, Badeggi.

He expressed optimism about the mutual benefits the collaboration holds and urged both parties to ensure faithful implementation of the terms of the agreement so that the collaboration would achieve its aim.

Noting that the trend in research is product oriented, he stressed the need for both parties to explore ways of making impact on society through collaboration.

Prof. Kuta further gave assurances of not just his commitment to the collaboration, but determination to expand its scope.

Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Director of NCRI, Badeggi, Dr. Aliyu Umar, noted that the MoU would formalise and
strengthen the long-existing link between both parties.

Dr Umar who is also an alumnus of the University stated that the collaboration was coming at a time when the NCRI was extending the frontiers of research and networking to harness the resources from it.

He expressed hope that the partnership would result in a win-win situation for the parties.

The University’s Director of Collaboration Affiliation and Linkages, Prof. Israel Olayemi who gave a brief on the scope of the MoU assured that the collaboration would work as the contents of the MoU were achievable and within the capacity of both institutions.

The MoU is broadly meant to establish
cooperative relations between NCRI and FUT Minna in the areas of research, teaching, capacity-building programmes and technology generation/dissemination for sustainable food and nutrition security in Nigeria.

It will also involve exchange of faculty and staff for research, which will provide both national and international exposure to faculty and staff from both institutions; exchange of faculty and scholars for short, medium, or long-term period, which will enhance and guarantee further scientific and
scholarly cooperation in research as well as exchange of staff and students for scholarly and research purposes.

Other aspects are joint supervision of postgraduate students and scientific publication; access by FUT, Minna staff to further their research activities at NCRI facilities, and FUT Minna shall give due consideration to the staff members of NCRI to further their postgraduate studies at FUT Minna as well as activities such as exchange of staff study tour, conducting research and/or supervising students projects, staff secondment for self-improvement and research, attending seminars, colloquia and academic discussions.

Study tours, attendance of courses and research; coordination of curricular/research proposal development; joint use of laboratories in both parties amongst others are also covered in the MoU.

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