Jigawa Govt sponsors 65 indigene to China for Advanced Training

By Muhd D Haidar

Jigawa State Government has bid farewell to the 65 sponsored scholars to the People’s Republic of China for postgraduate studies in agriculture and related disciplines under the second phase of its agricultural capacity development programme.

Hotpen reports that, the scholars include 50 Master’s students and 15 PhD candidates selected under the Jigawa–China Agricultural Capacity Cooperation Programme, secured through the bilateral scholarship framework of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

Speaking at the farewell ceremony for the scholars, Governor Malam Umar Namadi said the initiative was another important step in the administration’s commitment to human capital development and agricultural transformation.

“Today’s event represents another important step in the implementation of our 12-Point Agenda, particularly our commitment to human capital development,” he said.

According to Governor Namadi agricultural transformation requires sustained investment in skilled manpower, scientific research, innovation and technology.

“Our commitment to human capital development and agricultural transformation must go hand in hand. We cannot transform agriculture without developing the manpower required to drive that transformation. Equally, we cannot achieve meaningful progress in agriculture without embracing science, research, innovation and technology.”

Under the programme, the 50 master’s students will undertake three-year full postgraduate programmes, while the 15 doctoral candidates will pursue five-year PhD programmes.

Governor Namadi emphasised the importance of strengthening agricultural research institutions, highlighting his administration’s efforts to transform the Jigawa State Agricultural Research Institute into one of the leading state-owned agricultural research institutions in Nigeria.

The Governor further stated that his administration had continued to sponsor local agricultural research on crops particularly important to Jigawa State, including sesame, wheat, rice and hibiscus.
He explained that the research aimed to identify practical ways to enhance crop production and yields, boost farmers’ earnings, and strengthen their livelihoods.

The programme is being implemented through the Jigawa State Agricultural Transformation Agency (JATA), in collaboration with the state’s Ministry of Higher Education in continuation of Governor Namadi’s drive for agricultural transformations.