FUNAAB Commissions Innovative Egg Drying Technology Facility

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) marked a significant milestone today, September 3, 2024, with the commissioning of a state-of-the-art Food Processing Facility focused on Egg Drying Technology. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, officiated the ceremony, reaffirming the university’s commitment to pioneering research projects that have the potential to transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.

The project, titled “Diversification of Egg Marketing and Pilot Scale Assessment of a Novel Egg Drying Technology in Nigeria (DEMEPP),” is sponsored by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) National Research Fund (NRF) 2022. Prof. Kehinde described the initiative as a groundbreaking advancement in the agricultural sector.

“This project is a testament to the efficiency and dedication of our researchers,” Prof. Kehinde noted, emphasizing its potential impact on both local and international stages.

The Principal Investigator, Prof. Taofeek Shittu of the Department of Food Science and Technology (FST), College of Food Science and Human Ecology (COLFHEC), highlighted the project’s aim to revolutionize the Nigerian poultry industry. He noted that with Nigeria being the largest producer of poultry eggs in Africa, contributing 25% to the agricultural sector’s GDP (6.8% of the nation’s real GDP), the project seeks to explore alternative egg marketing strategies and introduce a pilot-scale egg drying technology.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Kola Adebayo, and other top university officials, who expressed keen interest in the project’s potential to drive innovation and development in the agricultural sector.