By JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and its United Kingdom counterpart, University of the West of Scotland have agreed to work on the African Agricultural Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (AAKTP) with the focus specifically on local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in four target countries in Africa namely: Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.
According to a statement made available by the Public Affairs Directorate, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria dated
Monday June 19, 2023, the project is designed to facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building in the agricultural sector by bringing new skills and latest academic thinking to support strategic innovation in agriculture and enhance economic growth.
The Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Kabiru Bala, who secured the partnership with the UK university, stood in for ABU at the meeting on collaboration and partnership between the two universities at University of the West of Scotland, the United Kingdom, recently.
Discussion for the collaboration was facilitated by the African Forum Scotland through the Director of the Centre for Policy Research and Development, Glasgow, Dr. Festus Olatunde Ogunmola.
Prof. Bala was in company of the Director, Division of Agricultural Colleges (DAC), Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Musa Abdullahi Mahadi; DAC Linkages Coordinator, Dr. Usman Ibrahim; and DAC’s Dr. Emmanuel Opoola, at the partnership meeting.
Officials from University of the West of Scotland at the meeting included the institution’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Stephanic Pitticas; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Engagement, Prof. Milan Radosavljevic; Director, Centre for Africa Research and Economic Development, Prof. John J. Struthers; and Dr. Kingsley O. Omeihe of School of Business and Creative Industries.
