Rex Forestry Limited has hosted an international delegation of forestry students in Ondo State, offering participants practical exposure to seedling production, nursery management and timber plantation operations.

The field visit took place on August 27, 2026, as part of the International Forestry Students’ Symposium (IFSS) programme in Nigeria. A total of 74 delegates from 15 countries participated, while attendance exceeded 84 when company representatives, Nigerian university students, lecturers and other forestry stakeholders were included.

The seven-hour programme featured an operational briefing, nursery activities and visits to plantation sites within the Oluwa Forest Reserve landscape. It was designed to connect academic knowledge with the practical processes and decisions involved in establishing and managing timber plantations.

At the nursery, participants learned about seedling production and nursery management, gaining insight into the early stages of plantation development. The programme continued at plantation sites, where delegates observed forestry operations and engaged with practitioners on the management of timber plantations.

The field exercise followed a presentation delivered by Rex Forestry representatives on August 26 at the T.I. Francis Auditorium of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).

During the university session, members of the company’s Planning and Research and Development teams presented an overview of its operations and forestry practices. The presentation provided background information that helped participants understand the activities demonstrated during the subsequent field visit.

The two engagements connected classroom discussions with practical industry experience, allowing delegates to interact with forestry professionals and relate the issues discussed at FUTA to the operations they encountered in Ondo State.

Participants represented Nigeria and other countries across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas. Beyond the technical sessions, the programme created opportunities for informal discussions, professional networking and knowledge exchange among students, lecturers and industry representatives.

For Rex Forestry Limited, hosting the delegation was part of its support for forestry education and experiential learning. The initiative provided visiting students with access to an operating forestry business while encouraging dialogue between the company and aspiring forestry professionals.

The visit also brought international participants into direct contact with plantation operations in Ondo State, exposing them to forestry practices within Nigeria’s forest landscape. The engagement provided a platform for strengthening professional relationships and encouraging cooperation between academic institutions and industry.

Rex Forestry acknowledged the symposium organisers, participating universities, lecturers and students for their contributions to the programme. The company also reiterated its interest in supporting initiatives that bridge the gap between forestry education and practical application.

Photo caption: Delegates at Rex Forestry’s head office and during the plantation field visit. Photographs supplied by Rex Forestry.

Source: BusinessDay