LAUTECH, American varsity partner on preservation of fruits

As part of efforts to stem fruits wastage in the country, authorities of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology {LAUTECH}, Ogbomosho is collaborating with the University of Wisconsin-Stout, United States of America on processing of mangoes and cashew, which are produced in large quantities in its host community. The Vice Chancellor of LAUTECH, Professor Adeniyi Gbadegesin, revealed this yesterday in his welcome address at the convocation lecture of the university.

He said LAUTECH had signed a Memorandum of Understanding {MoU} with its American counterpart to facilitate the collaborative effort to impact its host community by finding a way to preserve seasonal fruits seasonal in order to add value to them. “ We all know that Ogbomosho mangoes are sought after in places like Lagos, Ibadan and others. If it is not Ogbomosho mango, people believe such mango is not original. We recognise that mangoes are in season now but a large number of them perish, so also cashew nuts and we have to do something about this.

Femi Adekola noted that the agreement between the two universities is in line with global policies and in keeping with the universal norm that universities should proffer solutions to human problems. He opined that LAUTECH could tackle its funding challenges and become self- financing by solving problems in the society. “So I challenge LAUTECH, to take a lead in reversing the trend, in other words, become an institution that would magnetize global talents to Africa in respective of those talents’ countries of origin,” he concluded.

During the graduation ceremony, which held at the university premises, the Pro-Chancellor of the school, Professor Wale Omole has enjoined the graduating students of the institution to be good Ambassadors of the institution as they go into the world. According to the former Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, the students should also be the platform for understanding and success, even as they place their belief in God and themselves. He said, ‘‘as you go into the world, be the platforms of understanding and success. You should also be the worthy Ambassadors of the University, and you should also believe in yourselves and God almighty in all your endeavors.’’
In his own speech, Gbadegesin said it was a thing of joy that the institution was still able to soar by dint of shrewd management to produce the great hopes of tomorrow comparable to any standard in the world.