Are you interested in studying food technology at one of the Nigerian universities? Or would you like to know about Nigerian food technology certification? Whatever your category, this article is a good fit.
We’re going to list some food technology courses and their certifications.
But before we move on, we’re going to look at what food technology is all about.
Food Tech Courses and Certifications
A wide range of tertiary institutions in Nigeria offer courses in food science and technology
. It is a combination of several disciplines such as microbiological, chemical engineering, biochemistry, nutrition, and agriculture.
They also offer various certificate programs that will further develop the knowledge and skills of students as they apply to their careers.
The program is intended to provide food industry professionals who have acquired relevant knowledge of some key elements of food science and technology.
Students will also be introduced to the main components of foods like fats, carbohydrates, proteins, and their nutritional properties.
Food Technology
It is a branch of food science that deals with the various techniques of producing and preserving food substances.
The goal is to improve the safety and nutritional value of healthy food products through the development of a new method and preservation system.
These foods are immune to a microorganism and all kinds of bacteria.
The preservation of food products further helps in the reduction of toxins and turn causes the food products more nutritious and very safe for the consumption of the general public.
It is because, in the cause of preservation, nutrients and wonderful preservatives are added.
Food Tech Courses
Below are some available food tech courses that you can opt for.
You may be unable to find some of these courses at Nigerian universities. However, they are offered in other countries like the United States, South Africa, Australia, Denmark, etc.
- Physical Properties of Food Materials
- Fluid Flow
- Heat and Mass Transfer, Basic Principle
- Reaction Kinetic
- Elements of Process Control
- Size Reduction
- Mixing
- Filtration
- Centrifugation
- Membrane Processes
- Extraction
- Absorption and Ion Exchange
- Distillation
- Crystallization and Dissolution
- Extrusion
- Food Safety and Hygiene
- Common Food Hygiene
- Food, Nutrition, and Health
- International Food and Beverage Operations
- Fundamentals of Food and Science
- Food Microbiology
- Preventive Controls for Human Food
- Commercial Food Service
- Anthropology of Food and Eating
- Advanced Cooking Career and Technical Certificate
- Culinary Arts
- Food Handling
- Introduction to Food Components
- Introduction to Food Manufacturing
Nigerian Universities that Offer Food Tech
Here are a couple of universities in Nigeria that offer food technology courses.
You can look at their school portal and see the courses they take in connection with food technology.
- Abia Stat Universtiy, Uturu, Abia State (ABSU)
- Bayero University, Kano, Kano State (BUK)
- Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State (BUT)
- Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State (BUI)
- Crowford University, Igbesa, Lagos State (CU)
- Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State (EBSU)
- Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State (FUOYE)
- Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Enugu State (ESUT)
- Federal University of Technology, Mina, Niger State (FUTMINNA)
- Federal University, Wukkari, Taraba State (FUWUKARI)
- Federal University of Agriculture, Markurdi, Benue State (FUAM)
- Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State (FUTA)
There are many federal universities in Nigerian that offer food technology.
Those that we have listed above are few. But you can Google to find other universities that offer this kind of curriculum.
Food Technology certification in Nigeria
Food technology is not available in colleges or polytechnics in Nigeria. As such, you cannot hold a diploma certificate in Food tech.
However, federal, state, and private universities offer food technology as described above. This means you can get your BSc, MSc, and Ph.D. in any of the food technology courses if offered at the university.
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Educational requirements for Food Tech in Nigeria
When registering your jamb to study food technology in Nigeria, you are required to register English language, biology, physics, and chemistry as a subject suit.
Second, when it comes to your cut-off point for JAMB, it depends on which university you’re applying to. In the case of federal universities, the threshold is 200, while in the case of state universities, the threshold is 180.
That’s not all the requirements, your O’level result is another key demand.
In this regard, to apply for this course of study, you must have at least five successful credits in basic scientific subjects, including English.
These consist of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology.
What Can I Do as a Food Technologist?
There are 2 or 3 things you can do as a food technologist. It goes from pure science to planning and efficient production of food products.
However, let us look at some of the activities you can be involved in.
- They monitor the quality and safety of food products as they are processed, stored, and packaged before they arrive on the market.
- A food technologist may also make changes in food products like making a sugar-free food product.
- If you don’t know, they may also invent new recipes for food products as well as create new ingredients.
- Furthermore, they conduct fundamental research into the aspect of food processing, quality, and decoration. Not just that, but to find a more economical and quicker way to produce food.
Where Can I Work as a Food Technologist?
Food technology graduates are barely short of work in Nigeria, simply because there are many fields to work in. A food technologist may work in the industry as a quality control officer, manager, or quality assurance officer.
The hospital is another place that requires their expertise to work as a nutritionist.
A food technologist can also work with health agencies and other food safety agencies, such as NAFDAC, SON, NDLEA, and UNICEF.
They can work for the federal Department of Health. Additionally, they may also work in research labs to test food samples, chemical additives, and other preservatives.
Food technology is one of Nigeria’s most lucrative professions, but no serious attention has been paid to this area. In addition, the course is not studied at the polytechnic and colleges.
However, if you want to study food technology in Nigeria, you can navigate through any of the above institutions and learn more about their food technology courses.