French govt, FUNAAB to collaborate on Agric development, academic exchange

The French government is set to collaborate with the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) in the areas of agricultural development and academic exchange.

Regional Agricultural Counsellor for Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo at the French Embassy, Dr Sonia Darracq, revealed this when she paid a courtesy call to the university.

Darracq expressed deep interests to collaborate with FUNAAB while noting that there were various avenues where such collaboration could be worked out.

Some of the areas Darracq laid emphasis on include academic exchange, technical educational development and aquaculture, among others, adding that the African Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment (CEADESE) which is domiciled in the university, would be relevant in the scheme of things.

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She said: “I am here to understand you and be able to attract French companies and institutions to Nigeria,” adding that Nigeria had a lot to offer.

Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kolawole Salako, said that the University would be glad to do what is right and needful.

Prof. Kolawole said: “FUNAAB is always eager to have productive collaboration. We need a lot of collaboration in the areas of livestock and ranching,” adding that FUNAAB is eager to go into ranching and to expand the existing hectarage of land for cultivation.

After the reception, Dr Darracq and her team toured the CEADESE Central Laboratory and Library, all the processing sections of Industrial Park Unit (IPU) and the Directorate of University Farms (DUFARMS).

She disclosed that FUNAAB indeed had a lot to offer, promising that she would use her good offices to find suitable partners, sponsors to foster collaboration with the university.