Prof. Dennis Balogu, Dean Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, Ibrahim Badamasi University Lapai has applauded the Vice- Chancellor, Prof Muhammad Maiturare for channeling N60 million from TETFund for the purchase of cashew processing equipment for the university.
Balogu, a professor of Agriculture in the Department of Food Science and Technology disclosed this in an interview with us, on Thursday in Lapai.
He said the gesture was well appreciated by the faculty and the Department of Food Science in particular.
“This money is tied to the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies and they are using it in the training of our students for Food Science and Technology who want to produce juice from cashew and other derivatives” he said.
Balogu said that during the maiden convocation in 2013 a lot of cashew juice was produced and was used to entertain all the people that came for the occasion.
“It has helped the students to learn a lot entrepreneurially as they can produce cashew flavored bread, cashew cookies that people attested to as very good.
“We are still trying to find out different ways in which we can use cashew products for variety of food for its numerous health benefits.
“Its numerous high levels of Iron, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Phosphorus, Manganese, Monounsaturated fatty acids that promote healthy levels of good cholesterol cannot be over emphasized,” he said.
He further explained that aside nutrition, the cashew nutshell is also very useful for bio fuels and paint making, among others.
The Don explained that cashew shell has numerous uses in chemical and pharmaceutical products.
While appreciating TETFund for the funds, Balogu expressed gratitude to the vice chancellor for devoting such amount of money to advance food science and technology.
“This will enhance the training we give to our students, because one of our mission is that we produce self- reliant students from IBB university in the department of food science and technology.
“So that these students will not go out and start looking for jobs. but be assertive in the labour industry and be job creators themselves rather than job seekers,” he said.
