The strategic partnership between Kogi State and Hunan Province, China, has officially taken off with the successful completion of a three-week agricultural training programme for lecturers — marking the first tangible milestone under the newly established Kogi–Hunan collaboration.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo disclosed this while receiving the first batch of beneficiaries under the Lecturers/Students Exchange Programme, a key component of the broader partnership framework aimed at driving social and economic development in the state.
In a statement signed by Ismaila Isah, Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, the training took place at the Hunan Agricultural University in Changsha City, focusing on Heavy Metal Control and Prevention in Paddy Fields. The programme was organized in response to a request made by Governor Ododo during his official visit to Hunan earlier this year, under a mutual economic cooperation agreement with the People’s Republic of China.
“This initiative has equipped our lecturers with cutting-edge knowledge and innovative strategies to manage heavy metal contamination in rice cultivation — an issue highly relevant to Kogi State’s agricultural landscape,” Governor Ododo said. “It is the beginning of many more exchange programmes to be facilitated by the state government.”
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to leveraging the Hunan partnership to unlock Kogi’s agricultural and mineral wealth, boost industrial growth, and promote sustainable development across the state.
Two participants from the Faculty of Agriculture at the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Dr. Ajayi Joshua and Mr. Sadiq Fatihu, described the training as a transformative experience.
Dr. Joshua said the programme broadened their understanding of sustainable agriculture and opened up new avenues for research and collaboration with their counterparts in China. Mr. Fatihu added that the knowledge gained will help adapt advanced technologies to local farming contexts, fostering innovation in agritech, food safety, and environmental protection.
Both lecturers pledged to apply the knowledge in practical ways to improve public health and strengthen food security, positioning Kogi State as a hub for sustainable agricultural practices in Nigeria.
The exchange initiative forms part of the China–Africa Economic and Trade Promotion (CAETP) programme and is supported by a Sister-City collaboration agreement between Kogi State and Hunan Province. It is expected to pave the way for further research partnerships, agritech investments, and educational exchanges between institutions in both regions.
