The partnership between the Kogi State Government and Hunan Province in China has officially taken off with the successful 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 visible dividend of the Kogi–Hunan partnership, which spans agriculture, mining, industrialization, and other sectors critical to the state’s economic development.
The training, conducted at Hunan Agricultural University in Furong District, Changsha City, focused on Heavy Metal Control and Prevention in Paddy Fields. Governor Ododo explained that the programme was a direct response to a request he made during his official visit to Hunan Province earlier this year under the 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, which is highly relevant to Kogi State’s agricultural landscape. It marks the beginning of many more exchange programmes to be facilitated by the state government,” the governor stated.
In separate remarks, 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 experience. Dr. Joshua noted that it broadened their understanding of sustainable agricultural practices and opened new opportunities for research collaboration with Hunan Agricultural University. Mr. Fatihu added that the programme provided the skills to adapt new technologies to local needs, fostering agritech innovation, sustainable farming, and food safety while laying the groundwork for policy-driven improvements in agriculture and the environment.
Both lecturers pledged to translate the knowledge gained into practical solutions that will enhance food safety, improve public health, and position Kogi State as a leader in sustainable agriculture.
The exchange programme, which falls under the broader China–Africa Economic and Trade Promotion (CAETP) and a Sister-City collaboration agreement, is expected to unlock more opportunities for research, agritech investment, and additional exchange programmes between Kogi State institutions and universities in Hunan Province.