The United States Consulate Public Diplomacy has granted a first-year student of Marine Sciences at the University of Lagos, Ms. Oluwadamilola Sansadeen, training program on permaculture and sustainable good system as a result of the success in 2022.
Sansadeen, a volunteer project manager at an agriculture nonprofit, ProtectOzone Sustainable Livelihood Initiative, received two months of mentorship from an assistant professor of sustainable food production systems at Kansas State University, Dr Jeremy Cowan.
She will be traveling to the U.S this summer in addition to gaining practical skills and knowledge on creating sustainable and resilient agricultural systems, she completed the Permaculture Design Certificate Course at the College of Agriculture, Kansas State University and interned at the Willow Lake Student Farm of the university.
Sansadeen explained that the valuable experience at the university has provided her with the unique opportunity to partner with multiple agricultural stakeholders in Kansas’ thriving permaculture community.
“Embracing sustainable agriculture paves the path ahead on creating a food secure Nigeria,” Sansadeen said. “During my time at Kansas State University, I learned how to operate farm implements. I do not even know how to drive a car yet, but I can operate a tractor.”
U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer Joe Kruzich stressed that the collaboration between the U.S. university professor and the Nigerian undergraduate marks the U.S. government’s enduring commitment to strengthen academic exchange.
“By connecting a bright young mind from Nigeria with a prestigious U.S. university, we are not only fostering academic and cultural exchange but also promoting innovative solutions to shared global challenges,” Kruzich added.
Cowan, Sansadeen’s mentor and assistant professor of sustainable food production systems at Kansas State University, disclosed that he was proud to support her aspirations to make a difference in the field of permaculture.
“Sansadeen was an asset and a joy to have in our permaculture design certificate course and in her volunteer efforts at Kansas State University’s Willow Lake Student Farm. She brought a completely new perspective to both programs, introducing Kansans to her Nigerian culture. Her presence and impact here are already missed,” Cowan added.