Nigeria and Thailand have taken steps to deepen cooperation in agriculture, with a new partnership targeting youth skills development, modern aquaculture, technology transfer and enterprise creation. The initiative is expected to give young Nigerians greater access to practical agricultural training while opening new opportunities for jobs and agribusiness.
The partnership was formalised through a Record of Discussions involving the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Kasetsart University (KU) and the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River (FCCO). The agreement, signed during a ceremony attended by government officials, diplomats and representatives of the participating institutions, is designed to strengthen technical and academic cooperation between both countries.
A major highlight is the establishment of a standard fish farm at the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, which will be fully funded by the Thai government. The facility will provide students and other beneficiaries with hands-on training in modern aquaculture, while also serving as a hub for technology transfer, innovation and practical skills development.
The agreement will also support student exchange programmes and broader academic collaboration between Kasetsart University and FCCO. Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said Nigeria’s agricultural transformation must go beyond traditional farming by embracing practical education, technology, entrepreneurship and international exposure.
The partnership comes as Nigeria seeks to make agriculture more commercially viable and attractive to its growing youth population. With modern aquaculture training, international knowledge-sharing and access to new technologies, the initiative could help young Nigerians build sustainable businesses while contributing to domestic fish production and reducing reliance on imports.
source: The Guardian
