By Olasunkanmi Olajide & Temiloluwa Osinuga
The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has made a notable advancement in strengthening its international collaborations, particularly with China, by welcoming a high-level delegation from the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone, which hosts over 100 companies in Igbesa, Ogun State.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, warmly received the delegation led by the Deputy General Manager, Mr. Kevin Liu, in his Office.
Prof. Kehinde expressed his enthusiasm for the visit, emphasising FUNAAB’s long-standing ties with China and its eagerness to expand the relationship through new educational and vocational programmes, including the about-to-be inaugurated China-Nigeria Industry Education Integration Community.
He stressed that the University shares the community’s vision for promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, and sees the partnership as a significant step towards achieving the goals.
During the visit, discussions centred on potential collaborations in teaching the Chinese language and vocational education in Nigeria. Mr. Liu lauded the University’s serene ambience, expressing a strong interest in having FUNAAB join the China-Nigeria Industry Education Integration Community, set to launch on November 15, 2024.
Mr. Liu highlighted the community’s commitment to supporting Nigerian institutions in building capacity for innovation and entrepreneurship, noting that FUNAAB’s expertise in agriculture makes it an ideal partner. He believes that the University’s infrastructure and the dedication of its faculty position it as a key player in the new initiative.
Meanwhile, the China-Nigeria Industry Education Integration Community is a platform aimed at fostering collaboration between Chinese and Nigerian institutions in education, research, and industry. It seeks to enhance mutual understanding, knowledge sharing, and innovation, driving economic growth and development in both nations.
It should be recalled that earlier today, the President and Visitor to the University, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met the Chinese President, Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) being held in Beijing, China, to elevate both nation’s ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Additionally, the University was recently selected as one of the 50 African universities chosen for the prestigious China-Africa Hundred Universities Cooperation Plan, whereby 50 top universities from Africa and 50 leading institutions from China are paired. FUNAAB was paired with Lanzhou University (LZU), Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
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