Benson Idahosa University Collaborates with the state of Israel
The State of Israel is well renowned for its vibrant agriculture. It is in fact a world leader in agricultural technologies despite its small and not so favourable geographical location. The country, which produces 95% of its own food requirement, has been battling with its neighbours in the Middle East for about sixty six years since independence. The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Amb. Uriel Palti, was hosted by Benson Idahosa University recently, where he delivered a public lecture on ‘The Middle East Peace Process and Implications for Nigeria’. For a world class university like BIU which aspires to be a model for academics, professionals and entrepreneurs, the visit of the ambassador was historic and highly significant. It was not just an avenue to foster a lasting relationship with the State of Israel, but also an enlightening moment, where the resilience of Israel was critically discussed.
According to the ambassador, the Jewish people got recognition of a world just born in 1947, following UN’s partition, but this independence did not go down well with Isreal’s Arab neighbours. They invaded the newly born Jewish state and started the independence war in which about 6000 Jews died. In October 1956, the Egyptians launched a war against Israel known as the Sinai war but Israel won. All of the attacks against Israel were unsuccessful; the country proved its military superiority against its numerous Arab foes despite its small size and tender age. A total of five wars were fought between 1948 and 1973, including the Yom Kippur War by Egypt and Syria. Israel however, has successfully signed the Peace treaty with Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. The first treaty was a product of a very significant move in 1977 by the Egyptian president, Anwar El-Sadat, who came to the conclusion that Israel can never be defeated by wars.
Prior to the Public lecture by the ambassador, Benson Idahosa University held a business management meeting, where a tripartite collaboration between Israel, Edo State government and BIU was proposed. The main thrust of the collaboration, according to the Chairman, Planning Committee, Prof. Sam Guobadia, is to establish a large scale integrated farm in the institution, an agricultural village of about 3000 hectares that will have several components. Other propositions were the faculty and student exchange programme, as well as excursion programme.
In response to the propositions, the ambassador lauded the initiative as the first of its kind and described it as a very interesting triangular concept. “It deserves a lot of credit. I can assure you that I am going to present it to the government of Israel” he said. He also said that a dialogue between Benson Idahosa University and some Israeli universities will be developed. He noted that the programme came at the right time, considering the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan just visited Israel on a pilgrimage about two weeks earlier. He described this as very important in the relationship between Israel and Nigeria. On excursion programmes, the ambassador was very optimistic and excited, he talked about making it easier by working to ensure a direct flight between Nigeria and Israel.
Ambassador Uriel Palti paid a courtesy visit to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the Executive Governor of Edo State. He was also at the palace of the Oba of Benin, where he was gladly received by His Royal Majesty, Oba, Omo N’oba N’edo Uku Akpolokpolo. At the public lecture, the Edo State Governor was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture. He said “We hope that this visit would mark the beginning of a very good relationship between Edo State and the State of Isreal, and of course with the full participation of Benson Idahosa University.”
The President of BIU, Bishop FEB Idahosa while speaking with Nigeria Spur magazine, said the move will cement Israel’s relationship with Nigeria in the area of Education. He also considers it significant in the sense that students will get to hear firsthand from someone doing what they are studying. It will motivate the students of International Relations and Diplomacy, Law and other departments. “We are hoping that by next year, we would have a trip from the university to Israel for an excursion, and also start the student exchange programme…. We want to show our students that when it comes to leadership, we connect them with leaders and make them see leadership in action.”
He also hinted that the university is currently making moves with other countries, such as Palestine and US. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ernest Izevbigie in the same vein, said, “We are trying to reemphasize and focus more on research, service and education. This has been very great, and it has also provided a platform for us to make advancement”.
The State of Israel is well renowned for its vibrant agriculture. It is in fact a world leader in agricultural technologies despite its small and not so favourable geographical location. The country, which produces 95% of its own food requirement, has been battling with its neighbours in the Middle East for about sixty six years since independence. The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Amb. Uriel Palti, was hosted by Benson Idahosa University recently, where he delivered a public lecture on ‘The Middle East Peace Process and Implications for Nigeria’. For a world class university like BIU which aspires to be a model for academics, professionals and entrepreneurs, the visit of the ambassador was historic and highly significant. It was not just an avenue to foster a lasting relationship with the State of Israel, but also an enlightening moment, where the resilience of Israel was critically discussed.
According to the ambassador, the Jewish people got recognition of a world just born in 1947, following UN’s partition, but this independence did not go down well with Isreal’s Arab neighbours. They invaded the newly born Jewish state and started the independence war in which about 6000 Jews died. In October 1956, the Egyptians launched a war against Israel known as the Sinai war but Israel won. All of the attacks against Israel were unsuccessful; the country proved its military superiority against its numerous Arab foes despite its small size and tender age. A total of five wars were fought between 1948 and 1973, including the Yom Kippur War by Egypt and Syria. Israel however, has successfully signed the Peace treaty with Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. The first treaty was a product of a very significant move in 1977 by the Egyptian president, Anwar El-Sadat, who came to the conclusion that Israel can never be defeated by wars.
Prior to the Public lecture by the ambassador, Benson Idahosa University held a business management meeting, where a tripartite collaboration between Israel, Edo State government and BIU was proposed. The main thrust of the collaboration, according to the Chairman, Planning Committee, Prof. Sam Guobadia, is to establish a large scale integrated farm in the institution, an agricultural village of about 3000 hectares that will have several components. Other propositions were the faculty and student exchange programme, as well as excursion programme.
In response to the propositions, the ambassador lauded the initiative as the first of its kind and described it as a very interesting triangular concept. “It deserves a lot of credit. I can assure you that I am going to present it to the government of Israel” he said. He also said that a dialogue between Benson Idahosa University and some Israeli universities will be developed. He noted that the programme came at the right time, considering the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan just visited Israel on a pilgrimage about two weeks earlier. He described this as very important in the relationship between Israel and Nigeria. On excursion programmes, the ambassador was very optimistic and excited, he talked about making it easier by working to ensure a direct flight between Nigeria and Israel.
Ambassador Uriel Palti paid a courtesy visit to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the Executive Governor of Edo State. He was also at the palace of the Oba of Benin, where he was gladly received by His Royal Majesty, Oba, Omo N’oba N’edo Uku Akpolokpolo. At the public lecture, the Edo State Governor was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture. He said “We hope that this visit would mark the beginning of a very good relationship between Edo State and the State of Isreal, and of course with the full participation of Benson Idahosa University.”
The President of BIU, Bishop FEB Idahosa while speaking with Nigeria Spur magazine, said the move will cement Israel’s relationship with Nigeria in the area of Education. He also considers it significant in the sense that students will get to hear firsthand from someone doing what they are studying. It will motivate the students of International Relations and Diplomacy, Law and other departments. “We are hoping that by next year, we would have a trip from the university to Israel for an excursion, and also start the student exchange programme…. We want to show our students that when it comes to leadership, we connect them with leaders and make them see leadership in action.”
He also hinted that the university is currently making moves with other countries, such as Palestine and US. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ernest Izevbigie in the same vein, said, “We are trying to reemphasize and focus more on research, service and education. This has been very great, and it has also provided a platform for us to make advancement”.
The State of Israel is well renowned for its vibrant agriculture. It is in fact a world leader in agricultural technologies despite its small and not so favourable geographical location. The country, which produces 95% of its own food requirement, has been battling with its neighbours in the Middle East for about sixty six years since independence. The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Amb. Uriel Palti, was hosted by Benson Idahosa University recently, where he delivered a public lecture on ‘The Middle East Peace Process and Implications for Nigeria’. For a world class university like BIU which aspires to be a model for academics, professionals and entrepreneurs, the visit of the ambassador was historic and highly significant. It was not just an avenue to foster a lasting relationship with the State of Israel, but also an enlightening moment, where the resilience of Israel was critically discussed.
According to the ambassador, the Jewish people got recognition of a world just born in 1947, following UN’s partition, but this independence did not go down well with Isreal’s Arab neighbours. They invaded the newly born Jewish state and started the independence war in which about 6000 Jews died. In October 1956, the Egyptians launched a war against Israel known as the Sinai war but Israel won. All of the attacks against Israel were unsuccessful; the country proved its military superiority against its numerous Arab foes despite its small size and tender age. A total of five wars were fought between 1948 and 1973, including the Yom Kippur War by Egypt and Syria. Israel however, has successfully signed the Peace treaty with Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. The first treaty was a product of a very significant move in 1977 by the Egyptian president, Anwar El-Sadat, who came to the conclusion that Israel can never be defeated by wars.
Prior to the Public lecture by the ambassador, Benson Idahosa University held a business management meeting, where a tripartite collaboration between Israel, Edo State government and BIU was proposed. The main thrust of the collaboration, according to the Chairman, Planning Committee, Prof. Sam Guobadia, is to establish a large scale integrated farm in the institution, an agricultural village of about 3000 hectares that will have several components. Other propositions were the faculty and student exchange programme, as well as excursion programme.
In response to the propositions, the ambassador lauded the initiative as the first of its kind and described it as a very interesting triangular concept. “It deserves a lot of credit. I can assure you that I am going to present it to the government of Israel” he said. He also said that a dialogue between Benson Idahosa University and some Israeli universities will be developed. He noted that the programme came at the right time, considering the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan just visited Israel on a pilgrimage about two weeks earlier. He described this as very important in the relationship between Israel and Nigeria. On excursion programmes, the ambassador was very optimistic and excited, he talked about making it easier by working to ensure a direct flight between Nigeria and Israel.
Ambassador Uriel Palti paid a courtesy visit to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the Executive Governor of Edo State. He was also at the palace of the Oba of Benin, where he was gladly received by His Royal Majesty, Oba, Omo N’oba N’edo Uku Akpolokpolo. At the public lecture, the Edo State Governor was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture. He said “We hope that this visit would mark the beginning of a very good relationship between Edo State and the State of Isreal, and of course with the full participation of Benson Idahosa University.”
The President of BIU, Bishop FEB Idahosa while speaking with Nigeria Spur magazine, said the move will cement Israel’s relationship with Nigeria in the area of Education. He also considers it significant in the sense that students will get to hear firsthand from someone doing what they are studying. It will motivate the students of International Relations and Diplomacy, Law and other departments. “We are hoping that by next year, we would have a trip from the university to Israel for an excursion, and also start the student exchange programme…. We want to show our students that when it comes to leadership, we connect them with leaders and make them see leadership in action.”
He also hinted that the university is currently making moves with other countries, such as Palestine and US. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ernest Izevbigie in the same vein, said, “We are trying to reemphasize and focus more on research, service and education. This has been very great, and it has also provided a platform for us to make advancement”.