Firmenich Forms Laboratory Partnership in Nigeria

This lab will be fitted with all the necessary equipment to prepare food and beverage samples and concepts in the fields of confectionery, bakery, juices and nectars, carbonated soft drinks, dairy and alcoholic beverages.

6 April 2012 --- Firmenich, the world’s largest privately-owned flavor and fragrance company, and The Yaba College of Technology in Lagos, Nigeria have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at ensuring long term and sustainable commercial production of high quality flavor applications for the food and beverage industry in Western Africa.

The College has provided a space within one of its laboratories in the Food Technology department to be a designated Firmenich flavor application lab. This lab will be fitted with all the necessary equipment to prepare food and beverage samples and concepts in the fields of confectionery, bakery, juices and nectars, carbonated soft drinks, dairy and alcoholic beverages.

For Firmenich, leveraging local academic competencies reinforces connections with local customers and leads to a positive impact on the economy. “The partnership with The Yaba College of Technology demonstrates our commitment to developing a direct presence in Nigeria to ensure an understanding of the Nigerian consumers taste and be closer to the local food and beverage manufacturers,” says Mr. Emmanuel Frenck, VP Sub Saharan Africa, Firmenich Flavor Division. “Our close partnership with and presence within this prestigious institution offers great potential to capture ideas and create technical solutions for our local customers through the expertise of our Yaba Food Technology partners as well as transfer our flavor expertise to the future generations of students, which is also part of Firmenich’s commitment to sustainability.”

Mr. Akin Opeifa, head of Food Science and Technology at the college adds that “The Yaba College of Technology will substantially increase the value of our curriculum and offerings though this partnership. We will gain valuable recognition and an enhanced reputation within the food and beverage industries thanks to the additional training, practical work and equipment we will receive.”

As a part of the agreement, which is set for an initial 5-years, Firmenich will also provide full scholarships (covering tuition and expenses) each year for three students in their final year of studies. These students will be selected based on criteria jointly-defined with the Department’s management.