UNIJOS Students Showcase Bread, Mayonnaise, Fruit Jams to Promote Practical Agricultural Education

By Israel Adamu, Jos

The University of Jos (UNIJOS) has reaffirmed the importance of practical agricultural education in addressing Nigeria’s food security challenges as 200-level students of its Faculty of Agriculture showcased locally processed food products, including bread, mayonnaise, pineapple jam and banana jam.

The exhibition, held under the AGR 206: Introduction to Food Science and Technology course, featured products developed by students through practical training in food processing, preservation, packaging and value addition.

Inspecting the exhibition, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Joshua P. Cholom, said the display reflected the university’s commitment to producing graduates with practical and entrepreneurial skills.

He noted that the institution receives more than 50,000 applications annually but cannot admit many qualified candidates due to limited infrastructure. Cholom called for increased government investment in tertiary education, particularly in agricultural faculties, to strengthen research, innovation and food production.

Plateau State Commissioner for Water Resources, Bashir Lawandi Datti, commended the students for their creativity and urged them to use their skills to promote self-reliance and contribute to national development.

The course lecturer, Prof. Olusegun Osibanjo, said the programme, introduced under the Nigerian Universities Commission’s Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), equips students with practical knowledge in food science, technology and agribusiness. Students were assessed on product processing, packaging, production methods, cost analysis and overall quality as part of the practical exercise.