Sequel to the visit of the Vice-Chancellor and delegates from Taraba State University (TSU), Jalingo to the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) on 15 June, 2023 for joint collaborations drive, the Executive Director (ED) of CRIN, Dr. Patrick Adebola, led a team of Directors comprising of Dr. S.O. Agbeniyi (Director, Research Operations), Dr. R.R. Ipinmoroti (Director, Training) and Dr. S.B. Orisajo (Director /Leader, Cocoa Programme) to TSU, Jalingo on a return visit on 11 December, 2023. The delegates from CRIN was received by the TSU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Paul Bako in company of the Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Registrar, Librarian, University Director of Research, Dr. Afolabi Akintunde and other management staff. The purpose of this visit is for the institutions to understand and agree on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of cooperation and collaboration between CRIN and TSU.
In his welcome address, the TSU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Paul Bako informed the visitors that their institution is a citadel of learning blessed with natural resources. There is the need to convert the natural resources to wealth. He stated that his team was earlier at CRIN this year for partnership with the Institute and since then has been working behind the scene to solidify the partnership. The Vice-Chancellor noted that the University must engage in research, hence the partnership with CRIN. TSU will partner with CRIN on Research, Outreach, Teaching and Extension services in the core mandate crops of the Institute. The University has concluded plans to partner with CRIN over the establishment of TSU/CRIN Institute of Tree Crop Research amongst others. An office space has been allocated to kick start the process, while other physical structure would be constructed later. TSU/CRIN Institute of Tree Crop Research promises to be the best in the North East of the country. The Vice-Chancellor concluded that the TSU/CRIN collaboration will be beneficial to the State and our Institute.
The Executive Director (ED) of CRIN, Dr. Patrick Adebola expressed his appreciations to the TSU Vice-Chancellor for his commitment towards the institution’s partnership with CRIN. He noted that Taraba State is the only State where all CRIN mandate crops can be grown successfully. He corroborated the establishment of TSU/CRIN Institute of Tree Crop Research by the two institutions. Also, he pointed out other areas of the partnership which include: Participation of TSU in CRIN annual promotion activities for qualified CRIN Research Scientists; Sabbatical leave for CRIN Research Scientists in the university; Staff exchange; Collaboration with TSU to host students visiting on excursion and internship; Joint supervision and especially external examination of undergraduate and postgraduate students; Teaching some courses in the university and award of Professorship to qualified Research Scientists.
In their remarks, the TSU Director of Research, Dr. Afolabi Akintunde and CRIN Director of Research Operations, Dr. S.O. Agbeniyi jointly opined that the partnership between the two institutions will bring about poverty alleviation; economic advantage for the staff, students and the community; solid future for the students, enterprise and value additions; diversifications of resources and development of the partner institutions. They all agreed and recommended that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) should be endorsed by their respective institutions.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was jointly signed on behalf of the partner institutions by the TSU VC, Prof. Sunday Paul Bako and the CRIN ED, Dr. Patrick Adebola in the presence of the TSU and CRIN teams.
There was a tour of TSU facilities which includes the Teaching and Research Farm which will serve as the office space for the TSU/CRIN Institute of Tree Crop Research; TSU Orchard and Engineering Department which comprised of mechanical workshop with men and machinery.
