Food Technology

Brief History of Department of Food Technology

The Department started in 1997 during Management re-organisation of academic studies. In the official memo Ref:AIFPU/REC/23/Vol. 1/III dated 1st September, 1997. The Department of Food Technology was placed in the School of Industrial Technology and Dr. M. I. Anuna was appointed the Head of Department. Since the creation, the Department was in limbo as there were no structures on ground for its take-off.

When Prof. Francis O. Otunta assumed office as the fourth Rector, he took the bold step of establishing the Department of Food Technology, created by the previous administration. Dr M. I. Anuna was still the Head of the Department;to kick start the Department, the following were employed as Lecturers Mrs. Emmanuella C. Oti, Mr Chibuike E. Kalu, and Mr Emmanuel N. Okoronkwo while Mr Vincent O. Obinna was engaged as a Technologist. Through the efforts of Prof Francis O. Otunta and the academic staff of the new Department, the Department admitted students into the Pre-ND and ND programmes in the 2006/2007 academic session.

We got interim approval in 2009 to run the National Diploma (ND) programme and full accreditation in 2016 going forward, in 2019 we got interim approval to mount the Higher National Diploma (HND).

Today we have students in all the classes and have graduated a whole lot who are doing very well in the industry, academics and private practices.

Aim/Goal

The programme in Food Technology is designed to produce skilled manpower that will assist Food Chemists and Engineers in processing and preservation of food commodities in the field and in the industry.

Objectives

A graduate of Food Technology programmes should be able to:

1. a) Effectively engage in the chemical and biological analysis of raw and processed foods.
2. b) Store agricultural produce for industrial uses
3. c) Handle all types of industrial food processing and packaging
4. d) Market all types of processed and preserved foods
5. e) Effectively handle the quality control and assurance aspects of the food business
6. f) Engage in scientific researches related to food and food products

Admission requirements

1. a) The minimum entry requirements for the National Diploma programme in Food Technology is five (5) credits passes in WASCE/NECO/GCE in not more than two sittings. Credit passes in any two of the examination bodies could be combined. The subjects must include English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and any of Physics, Economics, Statistics, or Agricultural Science.
2. b) Candidates who have successfully completed and passed the Pre-ND programme of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana may be admitted into the programme. Such students must have acquired the minimum entry requirements within the period.
3. c) UTME subjects’ combinations are Use of English, Chemistry, Biology, and any of Agriculture Mathematics, Physics or Economics.
4. d) National Diploma graduates can be admitted into the Higher National Diploma programme upon successful completion of the ND programme with a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.50 (Lower Credit) and one year industrial training in a relevant industry. However, candidate with lower CGPA of less than 2.50 and not lower than 2.00 can also be admitted into HND programme but such candidate must have spent a minimum of two years in the industry. No candidate shall be admitted into the HND programme if he/she does not possess the minimum entry requirements in ND programme.

Job opportunities

Job opportunities in Food Science and Technology are varied and include:

1) Employment in food industries such as, canning industries, dairy industries, water processing and packaging industries, bakeries, vegetable oil industries, meat and meat products industries, etc.

2) Beverage industries, breweries, pharmaceutical industries, bottling companies, packaging industries, etc.

3) Career in academics as Lecturers, Technologists, or Researchers

4) Consultancy services

5) Government parastatals such as NAFDAC and Ministry of Health

6) Self employment

Specialty areas in Food Science and Technology

1) Food Chemistry and Analysis

2) Food Engineering

3) Food Processing and Preservation

4) Food Microbiology and Safety

5) Food Biochemistry and Biotechnology

6) Food Toxicology

Heads of Department from inception

1) Dr Michael Ikechukwu Anuna                   1997 – 2010

2) Mrs Emmanuella Chinyere Oti                  2010 – 2013

3) Mr Samuel Ejikeme Onyemachi                2013 – 2015

4) Mr Chibuike Egbuta Kalu                          2015 – 2019

5) Mr Emmanuel Ndubuisi Okoronkwo         2019 – 2023

6) Mr Vincent Oko Obinna                            2023 – 2025