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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUT0), Professor Nnenna Oti, has said that the Institution was collaborating with Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) and National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI) in developing specialized root crops to alleviate hunger in the country.
Prof Oti said the 5-day Master Class Track A and B training workshop at National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Abia state, was part of the umbrella programme of the World Bank and the NUC Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) project designed to bridge observed skill gap.
Represented by Professor Alex Opara, the FUTO VC appreciated the Executive Director of NRCRI, Professor Chidozie Egesi, for hosting the training workshop.
The Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Professor Maduebibisi Iwe, challenged the participants on environmental standards, safety and resource management.
In her address, the Centre Director, FUTO CE-SPESS, Professor Gloria Chukwudebe, said the key benefits of SPESSE project was capacity building for public servants, the federal and state government Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as educational institutions.
She explained that getting procurement right will reduce challenges in the society such as poverty, bad roads, poorly equipped hospitals, schools etc. She further said that the workshop would produce well informed environmental and social safeguard officers.
Professor Chukwudebe noted that getting procurement right was complex as it requires the corporation of many knowledgeable professionals and government officials, adding that the project was packaged with Tripple- Helix model including academia, public and private sectors in project implementation.
The Director expressed appreciation to NRCRI, Umudike, NEWMAP, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike for their support. He state that Procurement Management, Environmental and Social Standards classes would hold concurrently during the days of the workshop.
