The partnership between the Kogi State Government and Hunan Province in China has begun yielding results, with the completion of a three-week agricultural training programme for lecturers under the Lecturers/Students Exchange Programme.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, while receiving the first batch of participants, described the initiative as the first tangible benefit of the Kogi–Hunan collaboration, which spans agriculture, mining, and industrialization. He noted that the programme would open doors to significant economic and social development across the state.
According to him, the training—conducted at Hunan Agricultural University, Furong District, Changsha City—focused on Heavy Metal Control and Prevention in Paddy Fields. The governor explained that the programme was a direct outcome of his official visit to Hunan earlier this year, under a broader economic cooperation agreement with the People’s Republic of China.
A statement signed by his special adviser on media, Ismaila Isah, on Monday, quoted the governor as saying: “This initiative has equipped our lecturers with cutting-edge knowledge and innovative strategies to manage heavy metal contamination in rice cultivation, which is highly relevant to Kogi State’s agricultural landscape. It is the beginning of many more exchange programmes to be facilitated by the state government.”
Governor Ododo further reiterated his administration’s commitment to harnessing the partnership to unlock Kogi’s agricultural and mineral wealth, promote industrial growth, and sustain development.
Sharing their experiences, Dr. Ajayi Joshua and Mr. Sadiq Fatihu of the Faculty of Agriculture, Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), described the training as an “eye-opening” opportunity.
Dr. Joshua said the programme expanded their knowledge of sustainable agriculture while opening fresh avenues for research and collaboration with Hunan Agricultural University.
In the same vein, Mr. Fatihu highlighted that the exposure would help them adapt new technologies to local needs, boost agritech initiatives, and strengthen food safety measures. He added that the training also sets the stage for policy reforms in agriculture and environmental management.
Both lecturers pledged to apply the knowledge gained to improve food security, enhance public health, and establish Kogi as a leader in sustainable agriculture.
The exchange programme, anchored on the China–Africa Economic and Trade Promotion (CAETP) and a Sister-City agreement, is expected to pave the way for more research collaborations, agritech investments, and academic exchanges between Kogi State institutions and universities in Hunan Province.
