IBBUL Team Pays Working Visit to University of Georgia, Athens, USA

In continuation of the International Cooperation Agreement (ICA) between Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai,(IBBUL) Hanyang Agricultural Industry Limited (HAIL) and University of Georgia, Athens, (UGA) USA, the team from IBB University, Lapai led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu paid a working visit to the United States of America.

The Vice Chancellor, in company of the Registrar, Alhaji Idris Saleh Kusherki and the Focal Person, Professor Alimi Folorunso Lawal on arrival, had a  tour of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, a commercial park in the city.

A report of the visit earlier made available to IBBUNews by the Focal Person, Professor Folorunso, said IBB University, Lapai hopes to replicate the Botanical Garden in Niger State in due course to serve as relaxation centre, source of revenue and carbon sink in line with the Green Economy  Agenda of the State Government.

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The report further stated that the team proceeded to Athens, the seat of the University of Georgia, and visited College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and was received by the University of Georgia team led by Prof. Francis Fluharty. 

After the introductions, it was reported  that the team had a guided tour of laboratories and field facilities in the Department of Animal and Dairy Science. The tour was conducted by Francis Fluharty a Professor and Head of Animal and Diary Science Department; Todd Callaway, an Associate Professor of Ruminant Nutrition; and Vicki McMaken, Coordinator of International Programmes, CAES.

The laboratories  visited include Microbiology, Physiology, Meat Science; including Abattoir - Slaughter house, Meat processing and Cold room. Microbiology laboratory headed by Todd Callaway was reported to be currently on a research in stress assessment of trauma induced by fractures in human, using pigs as model on artificial intelligence aided mat; the  Meat Science laboratory in the Department is a registered commercial meat processing abbatoir and training grounds for commercial meat processors in America.

The report further revealed that the field facilities  visited by the Team include,  Cattle Holding lots, Paddocks , Milking Parlour,  Hay barn, Ruminant Teaching and research farm,  and the piggery . The field facilities are located in the Oglethorpe  County, Athens.

After the tours, the Team began discussions on the Online Shirt  Course designed jointly by the two Universities, IBBUL and UGA.

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It was agreed that IBBUL logo be included on the opening page of the course, local content of the course modules be provided wherever IBBUL  Department of Animal Science deem necessary, the Beef  production course earlier mounted with two modules of fifty-six topics be provided as two separate courses.

Other conclusion  from the discussions are, the University of Georgia will charge $25 per course while IBBUL takes on administrative charges as appropriate, and the course could be mounted now using public connected learning facilities like Zoom and Microsoft team pending the provision of Multi Media Digital Learning Laboratory at IBB University, Lapai. 

Furthermore, the discussion concluded that Staff from IBBU are welcome as  Visiting Scholar and on Sabbatical at UGA. Undergraduate student are welcome for internship while Postgraduate students can conduct bench work at UGA. The UGA will not charge for the use of it's facilities. Staff from UGA are also welcome on Sabbatical and as Adjunct staff 

The Focal Person also hinted that the team attended the Sunbelt  Agricultural expo 2023 staged at the Moultrie, Georgia on the recommendation of the host, CAES ICA Coordinator. 

The expo assembled farm  service providers of farm inputs and machinery and farmers for interaction on industry best practices. Of special interest to the IBBU team was the presence of all Universities in the South East of the United States of America at the exhibition with their Faculty members as Extension Staff. The Team returned to Atlanta, after a brief stopover at Orlando, Florida. 

On the last leg of the visit, a meeting was held on the next day with the Hanyang Agricultural Industry Limited representatives on the way forward on the International Cooperation Agreement. The team also visited the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library in Atlanta before departure to Nigeria.