FUTMinna: Mycotoxin, food safety centre to reduce cancer cases, others — Director

The Director, Africa Centre of Excellence for Mycotoxin and Food Safety, Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMinna), Prof. Hussaini Anthony Makun, has said that  the commissioning of  the Centre will assist in reducing the current increase in cases of cancer and other diseases in parts of the Country and in some other countries in Africa.

He raised the optimism on Tuesday shortly after the commissioning of the multi- million naira edifice at the Gidan Kwano main campus of FUT Minna.

Professor Hussaini stated further  that presently, Master’s degrees and Doctorate Programmes  students from twelve African countries are at the moment studying capacity building and research programmes at the centre,  using several assorted   equipment of various technological innovations  at the centre to prevent and control any poison from our food.

According to him, mycotoxin were those harmful substances that cause cancer of the liver and kidney diseases which the centre is poised to remove all forms of antibiotics from our grains through the use of  ICPEOS and PCR machines.

Speaking further on the issue of African students coming to the university, Professor Hussaini Anthony explained that the way the media blows on the issue of insecurity scares students from other countries to come to the university and called for a change of attitude.

He however pointed out that while the centre is partnering with Standard Organization of Nigeria, NAFDAC will also benefit from their research for maximum benefit.

About one billion naira was expended for the construction and equipping of Africa Center of Excellence for Mycotoxin and Food Safety by the Federal Government facilitated by the World Bank under the facilitation of National Universities Commission (NUC). 

The remodeled FUT gate which was executed through the support of the Vice Chancellor, Prof Faruk Adamu Kuta, was commissioned by the l state Head of Service, Alh Abubakar Salisu, who represented Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago.