Accra, March 25, GNA - A two-day international conference on good practices in management and strategic planning in agriculture and forestry facilities in Africa, has been held at Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon. Forty participants made up of lecturers, students, government representatives, entrepreneurs, researchers and civil societies from Ghana, Holland, Germany, Spain, Austria, Cameroon, Nigeria and Benin attended the conference.

The conference which was organised by the University of Dschang, Cameroon, University of Ghana and the Federal University of Technology Akure in Nigeria in collaboration with the University of Alicante of Spain and Albert-Ludwigs University of Germany aimed at improving the standards of professional training as well as strengthening university management capacities.

The conference was viewed by a cross section of the participating universities as important because over the years the conditions contributing to food security and livelihood of the African population continue to deteriorate.

Yet African universities and agricultural and forestry facilities are lagging behind in providing quality and relevant programmes that can respond to the current and emerging needs of the labour market. The conference therefore aimed at sharing key findings in skills which the agricultural industry and local communities need from graduates.

It also focussed on finding relevant areas of research in agriculture and forestry and providing opportunities and roles for stakeholders in the 21st century in African educational institutions especially Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria.

Professor Samuel Kwame Offei, Dean of the School of Agriculture, University of Ghana, urged the participants to highlight mobility opportunities in Africa and also challenged them to revitalise the role and potential of agriculture and forestry departments in African industry and educational facilities.

This, he said, would facilitate their objectives of generating interest in agriculture and forestry among students and industry. Prof Offei said this would also foster closer co-operation with industry, with the view of promoting student placement and employment opportunities. 25 March 11