CEFTER Honours the First Lady of Benue State

The VC BSU Prof. Kembe presents an award to the first lady of Benue State, Dr. Mrs Eunice Ortom

The Centre for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER) has conferred the platinum Ambassador award on the First Lady of Benue State, Dr. Eunice Ortom in recognition of her support to the programmes of the Centre.

The award marked the highlight of the CEFTER Postgraduate Conference with the Theme: “Tackling the Menace of Post-harvest Losses in West and Central Africa” held on Monday 24th – Tuesday 25th June, 2019 at the college of Health Sciences Auditorium.

Mrs. Ortom has in the last four years, partnered with CEFTER in some key areas including the contract for supply of Soya Yoghurt to primary school pupils in the state under the Federal Government School Feeding Programme.

In 2017, she supported and sponsored CEFTER to train over 4,000 Food Vendors on the Home Grown School Feeding Programme. That project also earned CEFTER up to N10 million Naira.

The First Lady’s Office also sponsored the training of about 500 Food Handlers in Benue State in 2016. This initiative equally earned the Centre N5 million Naira and received standing ovation from the World Bank.

Mrs. Ortom is at the moment working on a partnership with Bank of Industry (BOI) so that the Bank will provide start-up loans to the trainees of CEFTER short term courses.

Her individual partnership with CEFTER has earned the University funds in excess of N200 million Naira.

Responding shortly after the conferment, Dr. Mrs. Ortom expressed appreciation to CEFTER for finding her worthy of the award.

She commended CEFTER for providing an opening for Benue people to add value to the food value chain which by extension has helped improve the Benue economy.

She pointed out that her office is committed to providing support to any initiative geared towards improving food hygiene thereby curbing some diseases that affect women and children.

The award according to her has placed additional responsibility on her to do more in her service to humanity.

Declaring the Conference open, the Vice-Chancellor, Benue State University, Prof. Msugh Moses Kembe commended Mrs. Ortom for her tireless support to CEFTER towards realizing its established mandate.

He lamented the negative effects of the menace of Post-harvest Losses on the Benue State economy and the threat to the sustenance of food security.

He charged participants to come up with recommendations and solutions that would curb the menace of post-harvest losses.

In a welcome address, the Centre Leader, Prof. Daniel Adedzwa stated that CEFTER is determined to ensure that money invested in the programme is applied to research in the area of combating post-harvest losses.

He expressed appreciation to the World Bank, the Management of Benue State University, Partners as well as other stakeholders for their support which has led to the success of CEFTER Postgraduate Programmes.