AIM:  To provide educational and research training to postgraduate students to produce a new generation of African scientists as a workforce for addressing the mycotoxin problem for safer food and sustainable and secure health as well as the wellbeing of Humanity.
Specific objectives
To provide theoretical and practical knowledge in general and microbial biochemistry, molecular biology, and bioinformatics related to food contaminant control and safer food among postgraduate students from the West and Central African region.
To position the postgraduate students for successful grant writing and becoming independent researchers in mycotoxin and food safety
To provide linkages for industrial experience acquisition among postgraduate students.
To help the postgraduate students understand research ethics and use of the intellectual property for innovative research products for wealth creation and addressing mycotoxin control needs in the West and Central African region.

Admission requirement
To be determined by the admission committee of the African Centre of Excellence for Mycotoxin and Food Safety FUT Minna following the provision of the regulation of the Senate and School of Postgraduate Studies at the Federal University of Technology Minna.

Duration of the Programme
The degree program in Food Safety will be in the form of a 2 years collaborative M. Tech program. The first part of the program will involve coursework lasting for 12 months followed by 4 months of Internship/Industrial work experience with partners from government institutions, food safety regulators, food producers, and business communities

Title of degree
To be named by the host Department of the center following the provision of the regulation of the Senate and School of Postgraduate Studies Federal University of Technology Minna

2.0  PROGRAM NAME: MASTERS OF TECHNOLOGY (MTECH) IN Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics

2.1  ELIGIBILITY
In addition to O level entry requirement as in the admission guideline of the Federal University of Technology Minna, candidates with a minimum of a second-class lower degree in a related discipline may be admitted into the program but must have a CGPA of 2.50 and above at the end of course work before proceeding to the research. The related courses are Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, Microbiology, Veterinary Medicine, Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery, Pharmacy, Chemistry, Food Science, Animal Science, Crop Science, Plant Pathology, and related subjects.

2.2 METHODS OF INSTRUCTION.
Generally, pedagogical approaches will be adopted. These will include lecture methods, demonstrations, tutorials, group presentations, and slide presentations. Laboratory practicals will include wet and dry practicals, field trips, and report presentations at the end of the internship. Teleconferencing and mid-term papers are also not excluded.

2.3 METHODS OF EVALUATION
Procedure for formative (CA) including assignments and mid-term test: 40 %
Procedure for summative: 60 %
Internship/Industrial experience: 3 months
Practical-based classes shall be assessed thus:
Weekly class experiments: 40 %
Advanced technique term paper: 10 %
Examination: 50 %

2.4 GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
A minimum of three (3) semesters and a maximum of six (6) semesters are required to be spent by the candidates while on the program. This includes the period spent on the coursework and internship. To successfully complete the course, students are required to register and PASS thirty-nine (36) core credit units from the three semesters and a minimum of four (4) elective credit units from the first and second semesters. The core courses include internships and projects as highlighted:
Core credit units: 32
Elective credit units: 4
Internship: 2
Research Project: 6

2.5 CARRIER/JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Graduates of MTech Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics shall be opportune to work as laboratory analysts, surveillance/senior inspectors, molecular toxicologists, forensic and clinical toxicologists, and food and safety officers/food safety regulators in various companies and industries. They would also be relevant as biosafety officers, toxicological risk assessors, food toxicologists, and instructors/lead instructors/trainers/lecturers.

3.0 PROGRAM NAME: DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PHD) IN MOLECULAR
         BIOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS

3.1 ELIGIBILITY (PhD)
In addition to the O level requirement as in the admission guideline of the Federal University of Technology Minna, candidates with a CGPA of 3.50 and above in a related discipline, who have applied to the Department for a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics but without an MSc or MTech in Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics will be required to take course work and acquire a minimum of 3.50 before proceeding to the research. The related courses are Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, Microbiology, Veterinary Medicine, Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery, Pharmacy, Chemistry, Food Science, Animal Science, Crop Science, Plant Pathology, and related subjects.

3.2 METHODS OF INSTRUCTION.
Generally, pedagogical approaches will be adopted. These will include lecture methods, demonstrations, tutorials, group presentations, and slide presentations. Laboratory practical will include wet and dry practicals, field trips, and report presentations at the end of the internship. Teleconferencing and mid-term papers are also not excluded.

3.3 METHODS OF EVALUATION
Procedure for formative (CA): 40%
Procedure for summative: 60%
Internship/Industrial experience: 3-6 months
Thesis: 6 Credit units

3.4 GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
A minimum of six (6) semesters and a maximum of ten (10) semesters are required to be spent by the candidates while on the program. This includes the period spent on the course work (for candidates that must take the course work) and internship.

 3.5 CARRIER/JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Doctoral degree holders in Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics have job opportunities in Agriculture and Food industries and regulatory organizations; Standards bureau/organizations, National Drug Administration and Food Control, Quarantine services, Veterinary Centers, Hospitals, Food, and Chemical Industries as Bioinformatician, Drug Discovery scientists, Molecular Mycologist, Data Scientist, Computational Scientist, Modeling expert, Nanotechnologist, Foodborne infection control expert, Biochemistry Food industry, Animal feed Quarantine Institution, Universities, Research Institute.