Thailand Plans Agricultural Learning Centre in Nigeria

 

By Atlantic Reports

Thailand has announced plans to establish an agricultural learning centre in Nigeria as part of a wider development cooperation initiative involving four African countries.

Its representative outlined the proposal on Monday during a United Nations General Assembly debate in New York on Africa’s development and international support.

Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique and Kenya were identified as prospective host countries.

The centres are intended to support agricultural knowledge-sharing and capacity-building, drawing on Thailand’s experience in agricultural development.

For Nigeria, the proposal offers a potential platform for training and technical exchanges aimed at improving food production. It remains a planned initiative, rather than an established facility.

Details of implementation awaited

Thailand did not specify the Nigerian centre’s location, estimated cost, commencement date or operational arrangements during the General Assembly intervention.

The account also did not identify the Nigerian implementing partner, the agricultural activities to be covered or how farmers and other participants would gain access to training.

Those details will determine whether the centre provides practical support to producers, including smallholder farmers and communities with limited access to agricultural extension services.

Building on diplomatic engagement

The announcement follows Thailand’s renewed diplomatic and economic engagement with Nigeria.

In August, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, visited Nigeria and Ethiopia to strengthen relations with African partners.

During his Abuja engagements on August 25 and 26, he met Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and ECOWAS Commission Vice-President Damtien Tchintchibidja.

He subsequently visited Lagos and delivered opening remarks at the Thailand–Nigeria Business Forum.

According to Thailand’s Foreign Ministry, the wider African visit produced five cooperation documents. These included arrangements for technical cooperation with Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry and development cooperation between educational institutions in both countries.

Thailand said its development cooperation activities had reached more than 4,000 African officials and practitioners over approximately three decades.

The proposed learning centre could extend that cooperation into agricultural training in Nigeria. Its contribution to food security will depend on the resources committed, the relevance of the training and whether participants can apply the knowledge in their farms and enterprises.

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