• Sindh Agriculture University has introduced specialized admissions, tailored for African students, offering fee exemptions to make higher education more accessible to them

Staff Report

Karachi, Sindh

Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) will help Niger, a West African country, to develop its agriculture, livestock and poultry sectors besides impart education to African students and extend expertise to establish agriculture education departments in universities of Niger.

A delegation from Niger visited Sindh Agriculture University in Tando Jam a couple of days back and held meeting with Vice Chancellor Dr. Fateh Marri and other officials while the delegation signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with SAU in Karachi on the sidelines of ongoing first ever Date Palm Festival titled “Celebrating the Sweetness of Sindh”, opened at DHA Creek Club on Saturday evening.

The MoUs were signed by an official of SAU and the representatives of three universities from Niger. The agreements will facilitate collaborative research into various date and mango varieties, a spokesman of VC, SAU, told Sindh Courier.

“Under the agreement, the Niger universities will send their graduates to SAU for Masters Programs, besides, the SAU will also help them establish Agriculture Departments in those universities. The SAU experts will visit the Niger universities to guide them establish such departments,” Spokesman adding that SAU experts will take stock of the situation and help them develop faculties and impart training to their men.

Earlier, during the visit to SAU, the delegation was informed that the university has introduced specialized admissions, tailored for African students, offering fee exemptions to make higher education more accessible to students from the African continent.

To a question, the spokesman said that the admission program for African students was launched last year during which only one student got enrolled, however, more students are expected in future.

Read – Niger-Nigeria: A Tale of Two Similar But Different West African States

He said that the visit of delegation was aimed at forging collaborative ties to enhance agricultural education in Niger. The visit marked a significant step in building international academic partnerships, with the African representatives keen on tapping into SAU’s extensive expertise in agriculture, livestock, and poultry sciences.

The delegation comprised of Dr. Ahmed Ali Sirohey, the Pakistani Ambassador to Niger; Mr. Ibrahim Guero Mahamadoul-Hadi, Rector of KAAT University, Niger; Dr. Halidou Soumana Ibrahim; and Rector Sanda Maiga Abdoulaye of IPSP Niger. Also present was Ibrahim bin Maqsood, representing the AlT African Institute of Technology, Niamey. The delegation’s visit underscored a growing interest among African nations in developing robust agricultural education frameworks, essential for addressing food security and sustainable development challenges in the region.

Vice Chancellor Dr. Fateh Marri briefed the delegation on SAU’s cutting-edge research efforts, focusing on desert agriculture and the cultivation of organic fruits and vegetables. These initiatives, he noted, are designed to address the specific agricultural challenges faced by countries with arid climates, much like those in many African regions. The Vice Chancellor assured the delegation that SAU is fully prepared to extend technical assistance in agriculture, livestock, and poultry sciences to Niger universities, with the goal of enhancing their academic and research capacities, and mentioned the potential for promoting agricultural education in developing countries through the financial backing of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

One of the key discussions during the visit was led by Mr. Ibrahim Guero Mahamadoul-Hadi, Rector of KAAT University, Niger, who specifically requested SAU’s support in setting up a Faculty of Agriculture at his institution. He emphasized the need for collaboration in curriculum development, faculty training, and the establishment of research programs that are crucial for building a robust agricultural education infrastructure in Niger.

The African delegation paid a detailed visit to SAU’s various departments, and witnessed the university’s academic and research capabilities. The visit concluded with a cultural exchange, where the African guests were presented with traditional Sindhi gifts and the SAU university shields.

Read: Sindh Agriculture University signs agreement with Chinese Varsity for joint research

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The post Sindh Agriculture University to help Niger develop its Agriculture Sector first appeared on Sindh Courier.

By Ashraf Aboul-Yazid | Cairo

This morning the poet Saley Boubé Bali, Niger, sent me a message saying that today marks three months since poets; who are members of the World Poetry Movement (WPM), Niger, read poems in front of the French army base in Niamey, as part of the Free Africa activities initiated by the movement’s branch in Africa. The strong support of the World Poetry Movement (WPM) in the twenty-first century, as no activity in favor of the freedom of peoples, was able to mobilize such a huge number of poets, writers and intellectuals in the world, and the signature of 488 poets on a petition to oppose any intervention in Niger; this included condemning the embargo imposed on Niger and the threat of military intervention by France and some West African countries. On five continents, poetry readings and conferences were organized to denounce the spirit of neo-colonialism.

Also read: Huge protests in Niger demand French forces to leave

Sally adds that on September 22, when there were world poets reciting thousands of epic verses against neo-colonialism, France, via its president Emmanuel Macron briefly announced the departure of French forces from Niger while they continued their destabilizing maneuvers through acts worthy of the title of state terrorism. The Government of France, in parallel, cancelled grants, visas and missions of Niger artists, students and researchers.

In response, my poet friend said: Our people in Niger chose to refuse surrender and continued peaceful resistance by denouncing all agreements binding them to France, one after the other. During the three months it took to withdraw the French soldiers, international public opinion discovered the lie of some heads of state in favor of military intervention. And with the passing over time, the arguments for combating terrorism and defending democracy have become mere pretexts for protecting a cabal from the plunderers of the resources of Niger and the Sahel countries in general.

On Friday, December 22, 2023, the last French soldiers left Niger; The French embassy, cultural centers and the French high school were closed. The Nigerien poet describes that it represents “a complete divorce between Niger and France.”

Read more: The French army begins its withdrawal from Niger

Sally Bobby Paley adds, “This is a victory. It is the victory of all freedom-loving men, especially the poets from all over the world who performed once again their role: resistance against colonialism and war in all its forms. The World Poetry Movement platform is the most appropriate place to extend warm thanks to all poets from all over the world who did not spare their time, talent or means to support Niger in this resistance test; This is the support that the Palestinian people are now in need more than ever.

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Ashraf Aboul-Yazid is a renowned Egyptian poet, journalist, novelist, travelogue writer and translator. He is author of around three dozen books and Editor-in-Chief of Silk Road Literature Series.

The post Niger – France: The Complete Divorce first appeared on Sindh Courier.