By Dr. Scholastica Ngunengen Banka; FIMC, CMC, NMIM
Centre Secretary
The Centre for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER) Benue State University, in collaboration with T&J Educational Consult, United Kingdom and the Federal Road Safety Corps organized a five-day training workshop on Food Transportation and Logistics. The essence of the workshop was to train Transport-line owners/operators and other relevant stakeholders in the food value chain on the globally acceptable methods of safely transporting food items from the farm gates to the final consumers.
The Centre Leader/Director, Dr. Barnabas AchakpaIkyoin his opening remarks encouraged participant to take advantage of the experience as a means of enhancing professionalism in the transport business as it relates to food transportation. He added that the training was also part of the Centre’s activities to help in achieving and fulfilling its mandate on post-harvest control.
The workshop was attended by dignitaries, participants and all stakeholders in the transport sector within Benue State and across the country.
The training was a 5-dayevent and highlights were as follows:
Day 1: Driving and Drivers Attitude:Major focus was on attitude of drivers on the highways and how to improve road safety as well as measures to ensure reduced road crashes. The presentation of the sub topic was on the basic road safety elements and the emphasis was that the driver is the key element of attention for safe road use, according to the presenter, Dr. Maurice Okoye (DCC, Rtd).
Day 2: Road Transport Logistics and Safety:Road transportation was described as a sub mode of land transportation that depends solidly on roads to function.The paper, also presented by Dr. Okoye, highlighted elements of professionalism, professional ethics, obedience to rules of engagement, punctuality, care and maintenance of the vehicle, courtesy and other professional attributes such as personal appearance. Other attributes such as personality, adaptability/willingness and the interest of the driver were equally stressed.
DAY 3: Public Transport Planning and Policy: The presenters, Dr. Tersoo Abu highlighted the guideline for operations and operatives. He emphasized that the guidelines and rules, principles and set standards of accomplishing both long and short term goals for public transport should be a top priority for the Nigerian government.
Day 4: Food Transport (Freight and Logistics): Presenting on Food Transportation, Dr. Tersoo Abu and Mr. Ezekiel AhanbeeIgbakoridentified food waste as commonly occasioned by improper handling and packaging in the cause of transportation from the farmers to the end users. They advocated for innovative methods of handling and packaging these produce for safe delivery to the end users, based on international best practices.
Day 5: Review/Recap: A review and recap of the presentations during the workshop was done by the main organizer and the coordinator of the training Dr. Tersoo Abu and Dr. Sylvester Adejo respectively. Participants applauded the training and also made submission for policy implementation.
Furthermore, the five day training workshop ended with a closing ceremony which marked the official round off of the training/workshop on Friday 14th July, 2023. The ceremony was attended by top dignitaries and policy makers in the food transport value chain.
The Centre Leader, who also represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tor Joe Iorapuu, in his closing remarks, appreciated the consultant:Dr.Terzungwe Abu and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) who have worked tirelessly at ensuring that the workshop held successfully. He equally appreciated the participants for attendingthe workshop for the number of days allocated and expressed hope that the participants would fully utilize the knowledge acquired during the training. Dr. Ikyoadded that all the suggestions and recommendation made at the workshop would be forwarded to the state government and all other appropriate authorities for consideration by way of policy. He promised that to this end, a communiqué would be drafted and published in National Dailies.
