The Federal College of Agricultural Produce Technology, Kano, FCAPT, has established a spin-off company in line with the provisions of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) Act.
The new enterprise will focus on the production of tomato paste, quick meals, and kunun tsamiya, a traditional local beverage.
The provost of the College, Dr. Muhammad Yusha’u Gwaram, stated this in Kano.
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Dr. Gwaram explained that the college has acquired state-of-the-art equipment, including a fluidised bed dryer, a precision multipurpose carbinate dryer, and an automated granules and powdered packaging machine to support the production process.
“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,”
He further hinted that once fully operational, the company will recruit students from the college, allowing them to apply their expertise and gain industry experience.
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Highlighting the institution’s academic progress, Dr. Gwaram noted that under his five-year leadership, the college now boasts 13 PhD holders and 33 MSc academic staff, and offers 19 fully accredited programs in line with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) standards.
He stressed that 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 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,”
Dr. Gwaram also disclosed that 1,409 youths from the six geopolitical zones have benefited from various training programs organised by the college, further enhancing manpower in the agricultural sector.
On collaboration, the Provost highlighted partnerships with key organisations such as GIZ, Indorama Fertiliser, UNESCO, the International Potato Centre, and others, including the Centre for Community Development and Research, Self Help Africa, ITF, and NBTE.
He 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.
“Staff welfare is of paramount importance in this college as they benefit from cash and food items on special occasions to boost their morale”