Thailand has announced plans to establish an agricultural learning centre in Nigeria to strengthen food security and development cooperation with African countries.
The announcement was made on Monday during a United Nations General Assembly debate on Africa’s development and international support for the continent in New York.
Thailand’s representative identified Nigeria as one of four African countries proposed to host agricultural learning centres under the country’s development cooperation initiatives.
The other countries are Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique and Kenya.
The proposed centres are expected to promote agricultural knowledge-sharing and capacity-building, drawing on Thailand’s experience in agricultural development.
For Nigeria, the initiative could provide a platform for agricultural training, technical cooperation and knowledge exchange aimed at improving food production.
The proposal comes as Nigeria seeks to boost domestic agricultural productivity, strengthen food security and reduce dependence on imported food products.
The announcement also builds on renewed diplomatic and economic engagement between Thailand and Nigeria.
In August, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, visited Nigeria and Ethiopia to strengthen relations with Africa.
During his visit to Abuja on August 25 and 26, Sihasak met Vice-President Kashim Shettima and Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
He also held discussions with Damtien Tchintchibidja, Vice-President of the Economic Community of West African States Commission.
In Lagos, Sihasak participated in activities promoting business engagement and development cooperation, including delivering opening remarks at the Thailand–Nigeria Business Forum.
According to Thailand’s Foreign Ministry, the wider African visit resulted in five cooperation documents covering various areas of bilateral engagement, including technical cooperation with Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry and development cooperation between educational institutions in both countries.
Thailand said its development cooperation programmes had benefited more than 4,000 African officials and practitioners over approximately three decades.
However, Thailand has yet to publicly specify the proposed centre’s location, estimated cost, commencement date or operational arrangements.
