Nigeria, Thailand Deepen Agricultural Cooperation, Launch Innovation Initiative

By Harriet Tornguvan 

Nigeria and Thailand have moved to deepen cooperation in agriculture through research, innovation, technology transfer and capacity building, with stakeholders stressing the importance of international partnerships in advancing the country’s food security agenda.

The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr. Dabban, made this known on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the launch of the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) initiative in Lagos.

The event, held at the Lekki Room of the Radisson Blu Hotel, brought together stakeholders from the agricultural research, cooperative and development sectors to strengthen collaboration between Nigeria and Thailand.

Dabban, according to a statement signed by Khadijat O. Ameen, Public Relations Officer to the Executive Secretary, ARCN, emphasised the need for stronger international partnerships to accelerate the development of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

He said knowledge exchange, access to modern technologies, research collaboration and human-capacity development were critical to addressing the challenges confronting agricultural production in the country.

The ARCN boss noted that stronger collaboration between Nigerian and Thai institutions would create opportunities for researchers, farmers and other agricultural stakeholders to benefit from innovative approaches and practical solutions to agricultural challenges.

He reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to supporting partnerships that promote agricultural research, innovation and technology transfer, stressing that such initiatives would contribute significantly to Nigeria’s food security objectives.

Also speaking, the Provost and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, Enugu State, Jude Ejikeme Obidiegwu, highlighted the potential impact of the partnership on communities and the agricultural value chain.

Obidiegwu said the initiative was designed to benefit host communities, students, farmers, cooperative societies, private-sector operators and innovators.

In his presentation titled, “Insights into the Thai-Nigeria Collaborative Framework,” the Provost provided an overview of the history of engagements between Nigeria and Thailand, including the communication and interactions that laid the foundation for the current partnership.

He stressed the importance of ensuring that the collaboration translates into practical benefits for agricultural stakeholders, particularly through sustainable initiatives capable of improving livelihoods and strengthening agricultural enterprises.

The signing of the MoU and launch of the TICA initiative were described as a significant milestone in Nigeria-Thailand relations, particularly in efforts to build a more productive, resilient and technology-driven agricultural sector.

The partnership is expected to strengthen cooperation in agricultural research and innovation while facilitating technology transfer, capacity building and agricultural entrepreneurship.

Stakeholders expressed optimism that the collaboration would support the broader food security agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by equipping farmers, researchers, cooperative societies and other actors with improved knowledge, skills and technologies for sustainable agricultural development.