The Ambassador of Thailand to Nigeria, Thirapath Mongtolnaun, has inspected the proposed site for the establishment of the Thai-Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Technology Learning Centre at the Federal Cooperative College.
The proposed project follows ongoing discussions between Nigeria and Thailand to explore business opportunities in sustainable agriculture, including African catfish production and integrated farming systems.
The learning centre is being developed through a collaborative framework involving the Federal Cooperative College, Kasetsart University, and the Thailand International Cooperation Agency as part of Thailand’s broader strategy to strengthen global food security cooperation.
Speaking during the visit, Mongtolnaun said the Thai Embassy and the Thailand International Cooperation Agency had considered cooperation in aquaculture development before deciding to establish what he described as “this flagship project of aquaculture and sustainable agriculture” in Nigeria.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the third pillar of the Thailand–Africa Initiative policy framework, launched in 2013 and relaunched in 2025 to deepen cooperation between Thailand and African countries.
The ambassador described the Federal Cooperative College as suitable for the investment, noting that the purpose of the visit was to conduct a site survey and identify practical areas for long-term cooperation.
He said the delegation was in Nigeria “to explore concrete opportunities for practical cooperation going forward.”
The project is expected to strengthen agricultural training and knowledge transfer in areas such as aquaculture, sustainable farming practices, and integrated agricultural systems.
Provost and Chief Executive Officer of the institution, Ejikeme Obidiegwu, said the centre would serve as a training hub for students, farmers, and agricultural stakeholders across Nigeria and other parts of West Africa.
“Basically, the centre will train at least 100 students every year. It is a training hub that cuts across Nigeria, and people from West Africa can access the training centre,” he said.
The proposed learning centre is expected to support agricultural capacity building, improve technical knowledge in aquaculture and sustainable farming, and strengthen regional cooperation in food production and agricultural innovation.
