By Sarah NEGEDU
The FCT Administration and the Regional Government of Lombardy In Italy, have announced plans to establish a training centre in Abuja, as part of moves to strengthen vocational education in Nigeria’s capital city.
Announcing the development in Milan on Thursday, the President of Lombardy Regional Government, Attilio Fontana, said his administration will also facilitate training of youths from Abuja in Lombardy.
Fontana who was speaking during a meeting with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, also assured of partnership with the FCTA to develop agriculture, especially in the area of modern farming technologies.
Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, in a statement issued from Milan, said that Wike and the President of Lombardy Region had extensive discussions on areas of collaboration in agribusiness and vocational education.
Lere, in the statement said the latest collaboration was the outcome of several meetings with the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria.
He quoted the FCT Minister saying, “We had meetings with your country’s ambassador in Nigeria where we put heads together to see how we can exchange ideas with you and partner with Lombardy Region.
“We are aware that Lombardy Region is very strong in agriculture and vocational education. Ours is to see how we can partner to have investors in agriculture in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. And to also get assistance in the area of vocational education, to train our youths and women, especially in ICT and other skills acquisitions.
“Abuja has vast fertile land, agro business will thrive there. It has over 800,000 hectares of land out of which 274,000 hectares is earmarked for agricultural development while 270,000 hectares is for forest reserve. Therefore, we are particular about collaboration with your government to develop agriculture in Abuja.
“Also, vocational training for the youths, especially in ICT is key. It gives self employment and once our youths can employ themselves and are taken off the streets, crime will reduce.
“Basically, these are the two areas we are seeking that we can partner together and also get assistance from your government.”
Responding, President Fontana said; “You know that Lombardy Region is very strong in industry and battery manufacturing, apart from agriculture. We have a lot of ideas in agriculture too.
“We are willing to collaborate with you in the education of the future because a lot of education is about software, innovation, technology and it is very important. We are the best region in this. More than 30 percent of technical education in Italy is here in Lombardy.
“We can establish something on vocational training in your country and you can also come here to learn our kind of education.”
Fontana promised to come up with a Memorandum of Understanding immediately stating that, “Today. Our office will prepare an MoU and your officers will look at it with them, we sign and take off.”
On agriculture, the President said; “My team will sit with your team, look at your priority areas and see how will can partner and also be of assistance.”
Those on FCT Minister’s entourage include the FCT Mandate Secretaries for Education, Dr. Danlami Hayyo and Mandate Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, Lawan Geidam.
