WATEA and NBTE at the Paris International Agricultural Show 2024

8 April 2024

The Women in Agricultural Technical Education and Apprenticeship in Nigeria, WATEA Project, is poised to raise a new generation of competent female agricultural technologists. This is a response to the little attention given to the attractiveness and quality of Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training (ATVET) in Nigeria.

Heads of Nigerian Agricultural Technical Schools during the study tour in France.
Heads of Nigerian Agricultural Technical Schools during the study tour in France.

The project has engaged key stakeholders in relevant government agencies and technical schools in Nigeria to bring its mission to fruition. In December 2023, assisted by the project’s donor, the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs through the Embassy of France in Nigeria, Stakeholders from selected Nigerian Technical Schools visited France for a study tour. It was an opportunity to explore and study the operations of French Agricultural Technical and Vocational Schools and their cooperation with local agri-food enterprises.

As part of the advocacy objective of the WATEA Project, which entails institutionalizing administrative and legal relationships between agro-companies and technical education institutions, the team, accompanied by delegates from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), attended the Paris International Agricultural Show 2024. The teams jointly executed their advocacy duties by networking with representatives from Nigerian agri-food companies present at the event, including BUA, Dangote groups, L and Z Integrated Farms, and others.

WATEA and NBTE with Min. Frank Reister and Dr Sonia Darracq.
WATEA and NBTE with Min. Frank Reister and Dr Sonia Darracq.

During the expo session at the Nigerian pavilion – Pride of Nigeria, the WATEA stand was graced with the presence of the Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness of France, Frank Riester, who was guided by Dr Sonia Darracq, the Regional Agriculture Counselor. The team shared the project’s goals with him and how it plans to leverage the relationship with France to implement competency-based technical agricultural training in Nigeria.

(L-R) Samaila Tanko (NBTE), Fred Numa (Head of Technical Centre), Zainatou Sougrynoma (Project Coordinator, IITA), Bilikisu S. Ahmad (NBTE).
(L-R) Samaila Tanko (NBTE), Fred Numa (Head of Technical Centre), Zainatou Sougrynoma (Project Coordinator, IITA), Bilikisu S. Ahmad (NBTE).

The NBTE delegates and WATEA Project Coordinator Zainatou Sougrynoma also paid a study visit to an agricultural technical school in Brittany, Lycée Agricole de la Bretonnière. The team enjoyed a warm welcome from the Head of the Training Center, Fred Numa. The visit aimed to see their facilities and explore collaboration opportunities to strengthen skills acquisition curricula in Nigeria.