Uniport VC Lays foundation Stone for Uniport Bakery

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joseph Ajienka, has described the establishment of the University of Port Harcourt Bakery as a milestone achievement that would boost the entrepreneurial drive of the University, noting that that it would also serve as a research facility and a Bakers Training Institute when operational.

Performing the Foundation stone-Laying Ceremony at Choba Park last Monday, Professor Ajienka said that the Bakery which would constitute part of the Feeds and Processing Unit would in addition to ensuring diversity of products, permeate knowledge to the society. He commended partners of the project for investing in a worthy cause, expressing hope that the project would be very fruitful.

Director of the Consultancy, Research and Development Centre (CORDEC), Professor Henry Njoku, disclosed that the Project on completion would create a platform for hands-on training for students and research opportunities for academics. “The findings of the Bakery Research group would bring innovation into the process, while enhancing agricultural value-chain through raw material evaluation and substitution,” he explained.

Expressing hope that the facility would grow into a Centre of Excellence in Bakery Studies and Production, Professor Njoku, said that the Bakery would inspire a new orientation on the fourth mandate of a university, commending the Project consultants —the Genesis Group for its reputation to commitment to excellence in all its ventures.

Responding, Chief Operating Officer of Genesis Group, Mrs Folasade Omole who commended the partnership with the University hoped for more collaboration between the Group and the University. “We are envisaging that UniPort Bakery would become a huge success and the beginning of more collaboration with us”, she said.

In their separate speeches, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development), Professor Bene Willie Abbey and Director, Department of Physical Planning and Development Unit, Mr Collins Amietubodie who said that the Bakery which is in line with the entrepreneurial vision of the University, expressed hope that the Bakery would be completed within nine months. Also speaking, the Project Contractor, Hyacinth Nmecha of Hytech Global Investment Resources Nigeria Limited promised timely completion of the project.

10/12/2013