The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, disclosed the initiative on Monday during the visit of the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Ms. Yan Yuqing, to the university’s Alabata campus. According to him, the school is part of efforts to deepen FUNAAB’s long-standing partnership with China in agriculture, trade, culture, and education.
“To further consolidate on the mutual relationship with the Republic of China, the university also aspires to establish a Chinese Language School to serve as a hub for language and cultural exchange for Ogun State and beyond,” Kehinde stated.
He commended China’s innovation and development strides, adding that the university was eager to explore new areas of cooperation that would advance academic excellence, cultural understanding, and socio-economic growth.
In her remarks, Consul General Yan Yuqing praised FUNAAB’s serene environment, expansive land resources, and agricultural potential. She pledged to strengthen institutional linkages with agricultural research centres in China, support joint research, facilitate seminars in Beijing and other cities, and enhance laboratory connections. Yuqing also reaffirmed her commitment to the Chinese Training Centre at FUNAAB, designed to promote Chinese language, culture, and traditional medicine, while announcing plans to expand a charity programme in Ogun State to benefit low-income students and staff.
FUNAAB’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olukayode Akinyemi, described Yuqing as “an Amazon” and a woman of integrity, recalling her swift fulfilment of promises during past engagements. He outlined potential areas for collaboration, including renewable energy, joint degree programmes, staff development, engineering, medicine, and student exchange initiatives.
Also present was Mr. Li Zhensheng, a researcher with the China-Africa Economic and Trade Promotion Council, who identified six priority areas for cooperation with FUNAAB: food security, manufacturing, mineral resources development, oil and gas refining, trade services, and education. He further suggested linking the university’s clinic with Chinese medical practitioners and advancing joint research on mushroom cultivation and medicinal studies.
The Chinese delegation later toured key facilities at FUNAAB, including the 3MW Hybrid Solar Station, the Greenhouse, and the Central Laboratories at the Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment.
Other dignitaries in attendance included FUNAAB’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Olawale Dairo; Registrar, Dr. Titus Adeniyi; Bursar, Mr. Olukayode Osinuga; and international desk officers from the China-FUNAAB and Germany-FUNAAB partnerships. Yuqing was accompanied by Mr. Xu Fan, Director of Bilateral Relations at the Chinese Consulate, Protocol Officer Mr. Haa Yihe, and Miss Su Ying.