From August 25 to 31, a Hainan University (HNU) delegation led by Vice President Liu Qian were in Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire to promote cooperation with local universities. They visited Nigeria’s AI-Muhibbah Open University (AMO), University of Abuja (UofA), and Baze University, as well as Côte d'Ivoire’s Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny (UFHB), University of San Pedro (USP), and the École Nationale Supérieure de Statistique et d’Économie Appliquée d’Abidjan (ENSAE). Besides, they conducted on-site research at local enterprises related to tropical agriculture and met with HNU alumni.

During their visit to Nigeria, the delegation held separate meetings with Prof. Ahmed Salisu, Vice President of AMO, Aisha Sani Maikudi, Vice President of UofA, and Kathleen Okafor, Vice President of Baze University. They discussed the possibilities of academic collaboration, faculty/student exchange, and joint degree programs. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between UofA and HNU to establish a partnership. AMO and the UofA accepted invitations to join the League of Tropical Universities (LTU).

HNU delegation visiting AMO

HNU delegation signing an MOU with UofA

In Côte d'Ivoire, the delegation met separately with Ballo Zié, President of UFHB, Méké Meite, President of USP, and Dr. Kouadio Kouassi Hugues, director of ENSEA. At UFHB, two sides explored cooperation in civil engineering, tropical agriculture, biomedical research, and Free Trade Port policy studies, and signed an MOU to establish a partnership. At USP, two sides signed a student exchange agreement, focusing on collaboration in agriculture and marine sciences. At ENSEA, two sides discussed future cooperation in economics, statistics, mathematics, and French studies. Its director expressed interest in joining the LTU and hoped to make a return visit to HNU soon.

HNU delegation signing an MOU with UFHB

HNU delegation signing a student exchange agreement with USP

HNU delegation visiting ENSEA

The delegation also met with Wu Jie, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, and Zhou Kangning, Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Côte d'Ivoire. Their discussions covered the Hainan FTP policies and HNU’s achievements and future development. The embassy officials offered advice on developing the LTU and boosting cooperation with local universities, especially in the fields of tropical agriculture, fisheries, and civil engineering.

During their stay in Côte d'Ivoire, the delegation visited a cocoa processing plant and a cocoa bean warehouse construction site, and interacted with Tang Chong, the project manager, to learn about the local tropical agriculture and civil engineering projects. They also met with local business leaders, including Wu Guangyuan, Chairman of the Ximai Group, and Feng Feng, General Manager of Wenye (Hainan) Company’s Overseas Division, to find out about the local cashew production and processing. They witnessed the signing of a procurement agreement between Wenye and a local company and explored research collaboration between HNU and local cashew-related enterprises.

HNU delegation conducts on-site research in Côte d'Ivoire

In addition, the delegation met with HNU alumni, including Jiang Xuchun, a 2011 graduate, to learn of their enterprises and life abroad. Liu briefed them on the latest development of HNU and encouraged the alumni to promote HNU in Africa through leveraging their international resources.

HNU delegation meeting with alumni in Côte d'Ivoire

Group photo of HNU delegation and alumni in Côte d'Ivoire

The delegation included representatives from HNU’s Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, the School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, the School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, and the Nanfan School.

Source from Office of International Cooperation and Exchange

Translated by Han Yunsheng

Proofread by Kuang Xiaowen, Yang Jie