NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF BAKING - (Long Time Overdue)

NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF BAKING - (Long Time Overdue)

From unofficial data, the Nigerian baked goods industry employs over half a million people, both directly and indirectly. Directly, the industry employs bakers, careers, adjunct staff or those who function in non technical roles either in bakeries, biscuit companies, baked sausages companies, catering shops and so on. Indirectly, the industry supports and puts thousands in jobs in the flour milling industry, manufacturers of wrapper,  ingredient producers, bakery equipment fabricators and trade dealers. The baked goods industry alone consumes about 70% of wheat flour produced in Nigeria.
According to a research report published by KPMG, the Nigerian Biscuit Segment was valued at US$617 million, in 2015, while the Nigerian Bread Segment was valued at US$612 million, and growing at 3% continuously till 2019. In other words, the two segments combined (cake, pastry and sausage are not included) are valued at over a billion US dollars. These figures are huge, considering the size of the Nigerian economy. Bearing this in mind, the Nigerian Baked Goods industry is important and strategic to the economy of Nigeria, and the government ought to support it in every way. One of the best ways to support such an industry is usually through research, training and certification of  professionals, and manpower development within such industry. In advanced climes, this is what happens, and the reason countries establish national institutes in fields strategic to national security. If we want to move forward or improve the baked goods industry in Nigeria, this is what ought to be done. A national institute for baking is long time overdue in Nigeria.
We at  "Naija Bakers'  Corner" believe  this strongly, and are willing to take up this cause. To actualize this dream, over the year we are going to initiate a citizens' or grassroots' bill and get it through to the Nigerian National Assembly, through any elected members. Among other things, we are calling for the establishment of a National Bakers' Institute, through an act of parliament, empowered with the functions to;
1.Train Bakers
2. Issue Certification to bakers.
3. Conduct research and other studies related to baking in Nigeria.
4. Develop Content and curriculum for bakers' training
We are aware that some of these functions are carried out sometimes by FIRO and IITA, but there are a lot of loopholes, these efforts are not fully dedicated to the baking industry. Therefore we require a separate body. At "Naija Bakers' Corner", we are going to take a dive at this project, we would give it all we have, and if need be, we would mobilize signatures from fellow bakers. Please support us, when the time comes!