By Omoyeni Ojeifo
Nigeria is harnessing Thailand’s experience in agriculture, cooperative development and innovation to strengthen its cooperative sector, as both countries sign fresh agreements aimed at moving reforms from policy to implementation.
The agreements were signed on Thursday in Lagos during a high-level engagement themed “Building Sustainable Partnerships: Connecting Youth, Innovation and Business between Thailand and Nigeria.”
According to the Ministry of Agriculture in a statement by spokesperson Ikem Ezeaja, emailed to PerSecondNews on Friday, the agreements are expected to drive implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme, (RH-CRRP) 2030.
The RH-CRRP 2030 is a seven-pillar government framework aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s cooperative sector and making it a tool for inclusive economic growth and shared prosperity.
Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, described the agreements as a move to take RH-CRRP 2030 beyond policy development and begin its practical implementation.
“Today, we have not merely witnessed the signing of documents; we have witnessed the strengthening of a partnership founded on knowledge, capacity development, innovation, institutional cooperation and shared prosperity,” the Minister said.
The agreements include a Record of Discussions involving the Thailand International Cooperation Agency, TICA, Kasetsart University and the Federal Cooperative College, Oji-River, Enugu.
A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between Kasetsart University and the Federal Cooperative College, Oji-River.
Abdullahi stressed that partnership directly supports Pillar Two of RH-CRRP 2030, focusing on institutional strengthening, professionalisation and capacity building.
“At the heart of this pillar is a simple but fundamental principle: we cannot build strong and sustainable cooperatives without strong institutions and well-trained people,” he stated.
According to the Minister, the reform places deliberate emphasis on developing the knowledge, professional competence and leadership capacity of cooperative leaders, managers, regulators and members.
He also referenced an earlier milestone on August 12, 2026, in Abuja, where the Ministry, the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria, CFN, and Seamfix Limited signed an MoU on the Cooperative Digitalization pillar of the reform.
“This demonstrates that RH-CRRP 2030 is moving beyond policy formulation towards implementation, institutional action and measurable impact,” Sen. Abdullahi said.
Linking the partnership to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Minister affirmed the administration’s determination to reposition cooperatives as stronger instruments for agricultural transformation, enterprise development, job and wealth creation, financial inclusion and sustainable livelihoods.
“As we work towards Mr. President’s aspiration of building a one-trillion-dollar Nigerian economy within this decade, strengthening the capacity, professionalism and productivity of our cooperative institutions and the millions of Nigerians they serve will be critical.”
Sen. Abdullahi highlighted Thailand’s experience in agriculture, cooperative development, research and innovation presents important opportunities for mutual learning, while Nigeria brings enormous agricultural potential, a vibrant youthful population and significant opportunities for investment.
He charged all institutions involved to move “deliberately from agreement to implementation” with practical programmes, clear timelines and measurable deliverables.
“May today’s signing mark not the conclusion of a process, but the beginning of a stronger and more productive chapter in Nigeria–Thailand cooperation,” the Minister added.
The meeting was attended by key diplomatic and academic officials from both nations, including Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the ambassadors of both countries.
Also present were the Director-General of the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), the President of Kasetsart University, and the Provost of the Federal Cooperative College, Oji-River.
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