The Provost of the Federal College of Agricultural Produce Technology (FCAPT), Kano, Dr. Muhammad Yushau Gwaram, has given an account of changes that have taken place at the institution since he took office in September 2020.
He made this known to newsmen on Monday in Kano, touching on areas such as academics, infrastructure, partnerships, and staff development.
Dr. Gwaram said the College has introduced several new academic programmes to expand opportunities for students.
“We now offer new HND programmes in Crop Production Technology, Food Science and Technology, Agricultural Business, Statistics, Animal Production Technology, Software and Web Development, and Networking and Cloud Computing,” he said.
At the diploma level, the College now runs programmes in Nutrition and Dietetics, and Cooperative Economics and Management. He added that all existing programmes prior to his appointment have received full accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), which, according to him, has contributed to increased student intake.
“These efforts have opened more opportunities for youth across states to gain admission,” he said.
Currently, the College runs accredited HND programmes in Agricultural Extension and Management, Pest Management Technology, and Computer Science. Its ND-level programmes include Agricultural Technology, Horticultural Technology, Animal Health and Production Technology, Computer Science, Statistics, Science Laboratory Technology, and Food Science and Technology. It also offers certificate courses in Food Storage Technology and Produce Inspection.
On infrastructure, Dr. Gwaram said that several worn-out buildings and facilities—such as student toilets, classrooms, and hostels—have either been repaired or replaced. “We now enjoy 24-hour water supply using solar energy,” he said. He also mentioned that a 33KVA transformer was purchased using the College’s internal revenue to support electricity supply.
Solar systems have been extended to the Provost’s office, the College library, and the clinic. Laboratories and workshops have also been upgraded and fitted with teaching equipment.
In an attempt to connect the College’s academic work to the wider agricultural sector, a spin-off company has been created, in line with the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) Act of 2021. The company, which is registered with NAFDAC, SON, and CAC, has started producing items such as FCAPT Tomato Paste, FCAPT Tomapep, FCAPT Quick Meal, and FCAPT Kunun Tsamiya. “These products have already been produced in large quantities for testing,” Dr. Gwaram said.
He added that the College has installed several machines at its permanent site in Barkum in Bunkure local government to support this initiative. These include a fluidized bed dryer with a drying capacity of 200kg per hour, a multipurpose cabinet dryer for grains and vegetables, and a packaging machine that can process up to 1,000kg per hour.
Dr. Gwaram also said the institution has organized training for young people and rural women across Nigeria. “We’ve trained 515 in the Northwest, 200 in the Northeast, 119 in North Central, 370 in South-South, 150 in Southeast, and 55 in Southwest,” he noted.
The College has participated in events such as the National Agricultural Shows in Nasarawa (2023 and 2024), meetings of the National Council on Agriculture in Plateau and Cross River States, and food expos in Abuja and Lagos.
These outings, according to the Provost, provided a chance to present the College’s processed products and expose staff to broader industry practices.
FCAPT has also engaged in partnerships with local and international organisations. These include a ‘Train the Trainer’ programme with GIZ, agricultural field trials with Indorama Fertilizer, and a value chain collaboration with UNESCO.
“In fact, the College is hosting a UNESCO programme on July 15, 2025,” Dr. Gwaram said. Other collaborators include the International Potato Centre, Centre for Community Development and Research, Self Help Africa, Industrial Training Fund, and NBTE.
He also listed the installation of two greenhouses for practical training in crop and horticultural technology and the upgrade of the College’s meteorological station as part of the changes.
He added that the institution has supported the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Programme (KSADP) through training on milk and meat hygiene, artificial insemination, and veterinary care.
Dr. Gwaram said there has also been improvement in staff qualifications. “Thirteen staff members have obtained PhDs and 33 others have earned M.Sc. degrees since 2020,” he revealed. He added that staff have continued to attend conferences, workshops, and receive promotions and incentives.
“These efforts reflect our commitment to transforming this institution into a functional and productive centre for agricultural knowledge and innovation,” he said.
