Nigeria and Cuba To Sign Bilateral Agreements on Education, Science and Technology

Nigeria and Cuba are to sign bilateral agreements that will cover Education, Science and Technoligy and other sectors.

The Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Miriam Morales Palmero disclosed this at the weekend during the celebration of 65th Anniversary  of the triumph of Cuban Revolution and 50th years bilateral relations with Nigeria.

The envoy said: “We have an agreement on education and about 300 Nigerians are studying in Cuba and more in the nearest future.

“We are signing another Memorandum of Understanding in Science and technology, Cutural and agriculture amongst others.

“We want to collaborate with Nigeria. This is my second home and I want to increase our relations economically and in other areas.”

She noted that Nigeria and Cuba share common values and are committed to the education of their citizens.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman solicited for Cuban support to revive the education agreement between  both countries.

The Minister of Education, who was represented at the occasion by Ruqayatu Gurin, a Director in the Ministry, said: “Let me use this unique opportunity to solicit the support of the Cuban Government to revive our bilateral relationship on education with renewed vigor in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Therefore, I call on the Government of Cuba to extend hands of fellowship to explore academic exchange, scholarships, research, cultural interactions, and other areas of mutual benefit with Nigeria.”

The Minister also added that: “The diplomatic relations between the two countries have impacted several young Nigerian doctors as well as contributed to the development of the Nigerian Education Sector under a legal framework and a protocol of implementation signed on 24th March, 1981 within the existing Omnibus Agreement.

“Through the existing bilateral agreement on education between Nigeria and Cuba, about 100 Nigerian students benefitted from scholarship programmes  in the fields of medicine and engineering offered by the Cuban government between 2000 and 2012. I extend our gratitude to the Government of Cuba and I hope that this cooperation is sustained. “

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

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