The Vice Chancellor (VC) of Taraba State University, Jalingo, Professor Sunday Paul Bako paid a collaborative visit to the Institute on June 15, 2023. On his entourage were the Director International Linkages and Collaboration, Director of Research and his Special Adviser. The VC was warmly received by the Executive Director (ED), Dr. Patrick Adebola, his Management Committee members and the Programme Leaders (PL). The ED set the ball rolling by appreciating the VC for deeming it fit to visit the Institute despite his tight schedule and the enormous distance between his University and the Institute, he assured him of a worthwhile visit to the Institute. The Director of Research Operations, Dr. Sunday Agbeniyi intimated the VC and his entourage of the CRIN mandate crops, while the PLs took turns to acquaint the VC with the areas of desired collaboration on their crop base with the University which were as follows: Capacity building of coffee farmers in Taraba State on right processing techniques; establishment of tea plantations; production and multiplication of improved varieties of cocoa, training, varietal trials, development of drought tolerant cocoa and improved marketing; release of new varieties of cashew through multi-locational trials; ecological trials of kola species, use of organic materials for kola preservation, use of kola waste for production of clean energy, mentorship of students through external and joint supervision and entrepreneurial training of students for self-reliance after graduation. Others were collaboration to teach students on tree crops, sabbatical positions for CRIN scientists and collaboration for the development of international grants proposals. The VC, who was visibly thrilled by the giant scientific strides, acceded to the engagement of the Institute scientists for the supervision of students, sabbatical placements and joint development of proposals. To familiarise himself with more of the research activities of the Institute, he paid visit to the Nursery and the Cocoa Flavour Quality Laboratory.
