FUNAAB and Nourished Choice Foods Sign MoU to Boost Food Production and Address Rising Food Costs

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has entered into a strategic partnership with Nourished Choice Foods (NCF) to tackle the increasing food costs and enhance food production and distribution in Nigeria. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on September 27, 2024, marking a significant step toward addressing food insecurity in the country.

Nourished Choice Foods, a Lagos-based company specializing in high-quality food products, is led by Mr. Olabode Orolu, an alumnus of FUNAAB. During the signing ceremony, FUNAAB's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, highlighting the University’s commitment to successful partnerships with organizations that have strong ties to its academic community. He encouraged NCF to engage closely with FUNAAB in initiatives aimed at combating food insecurity, underscoring the University’s dedication to integrity and openness.

Mr. Orolu, the Managing Director of NCF, expressed his excitement about the partnership with his alma mater. He revealed that the collaboration originated as an idea in January 2024 and has since progressed significantly, including plans for the monthly production of 1,000 broilers on FUNAAB's Farm. These birds will be raised to reach 2kg within seven weeks. NCF will oversee processing, packaging, and storage utilizing the University's facilities, with plans to transport processed broilers to Lagos and other markets.

In addition to poultry, the partnership will also include a fish production initiative aimed at achieving a target of 1kg of fish every month over five months. The harvested fish will be marketed by NCF.

Dr. Emmanuel Bankole, the Acting Director of the Directorate of University Farms (DUFARMS), expressed satisfaction with the partnership, noting that the first batch of 1,000 birds has already been processed, and 1,000 fingerlings have been stocked in one of the reactivated ponds. He highlighted that this initiative has led to the full utilization of FUNAAB's Processing Unit and equipment, providing students with valuable hands-on agricultural experiences.

Following the signing of the MoU, Prof. Kehinde and Dr. Bankole guided Mr. Orolu on a tour of the Broiler Processing Unit, where Mr. Ibrahim Ogunlusi, a Chief Agricultural Officer, explained the broiler breeding and processing procedures. During the tour, Mr. Ogunlusi also noted that the facility has been inspected and certified by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

This partnership between FUNAAB and Nourished Choice Foods not only aims to improve food production in Nigeria but also serves as a model for collaboration between educational institutions and the private sector in addressing pressing national issues.