FUNAAB Strengthens Ties with China, Welcomes Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone Delegation
The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), took a significant step toward enhancing its international collaborations by welcoming a high-level delegation from the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone on September 4, 2024.
UBA CHIDINMA 
The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), took a significant step toward enhancing its international collaborations by welcoming a high-level delegation from the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone on September 4, 2024. The delegation, led by Deputy General Manager Mr. Kevin Liu, met with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, to explore opportunities for educational and vocational partnerships.
During the visit, Prof. Kehinde expressed enthusiasm for expanding FUNAAB’s long-standing ties with China through new initiatives, including the upcoming China-Nigeria Industry Education Integration Community. He emphasized the University’s alignment with the community’s goals of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, seeing the collaboration as a key milestone in FUNAAB’s strategic growth.
Discussions also focused on potential collaborations in teaching the Chinese language and vocational education in Nigeria. Mr. Liu praised FUNAAB’s peaceful environment and expressed a strong interest in having the University join the China-Nigeria Industry Education Integration Community, which is set to launch on November 15, 2024. He highlighted FUNAAB’s agricultural expertise as a valuable asset, positioning the institution as a pivotal player in the new initiative.
The China-Nigeria Industry Education Integration Community aims to foster collaboration between Chinese and Nigerian institutions in education, research, and industry, promoting knowledge sharing and innovation to drive economic growth.
This visit aligns with broader diplomatic efforts, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, signaling stronger ties between both nations. Additionally, FUNAAB was recently selected as one of the 50 African universities participating in the prestigious China-Africa Hundred Universities Cooperation Plan, pairing it with Lanzhou University in China.
