By Lydia Legbo
The Africa Centre of Excellence for Mycotoxin and Food Safety (ACEMFS), FUT, Minna, has received a Next-Generation Sequencer (NGS) from the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) in support of the project titled “Enhancing Human and Analytical Capacity for Food Safety Standards (AFRA).”
Appreciating the gesture in a letter to the donor, the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT, Minna), Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, on behalf of the Centre and the RAF5091 Project Team, commended the Chairman/CEO, Engr. Dr Anthony Ekedegwa for facilitating the acquisition of the critical equipment, describing the gesture as a major milestone in the project’s implementation.
The letter, which was delivered by a team led by the Centre Leader, Prof. Anthony Makun, Engr. Dr Ekedegwa, at the Commission’s Office in Abuja, noted that the equipment would significantly enhance the University’s capacity to generate reliable data for food safety risk assessment standards and regulatory enforcement.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the availability of the advanced analytical facility will further strengthen laboratory capabilities among participating institutions, including FUT, Minna, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.
Prof. Kuta further stated that the equipment would enhance research capacity in detecting emerging food-borne pathogens, while also enabling the tracking of antimicrobial and antibiotic-resistant strains to improve public health outcomes.
He acknowledged and commended the Commission’s sustained commitment to strengthening scientific infrastructure and capacity development in Nigeria, expressing optimism for continued collaboration in achieving shared national development goals.
Responding, Engr. Dr Ekedegwa disclosed that the support package includes installation and training components to ensure optimal use of the equipment.
He urged the University and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the country derives maximum benefit from the machine, stressing that it should not become one of many underutilised facilities.
