The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said the ministry would partner with Israeli experts in developing technology-backed farms to promote agriculture and food production in Abuja.
Wike stated this when the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Michael Freeman, paid a courtesy visit to the minister’s office in Abuja, on Tuesday.
The minister said such collaboration was needed to create massive employment for the youths as well as address food insecurity
He assured Freeman that the FCTA would continue to provide the enabling environment for investors to carry out legitimate businesses in the FCT.
On the issue of security, Wike said like other major cities in the world, the FCT had its share of security challenges but was open for partnerships with Israel to improve the security situation.
Wike said, “Yes, we have had one or two setbacks in terms of security threats, but like you know, security issues are everywhere, and we are working very hard to see that we nip in the bud, anything that will give us any negative publicity.
“You know all over the world, nobody can say you can have one hundred percent security, you know it’s not possible. But we will try as much as we can, anywhere we can collaborate and work together to help us reduce some level of insecurity in the city. But be assured that we are willing to work”.
In his remark, Freeman assured that the Israeli embassy was committed to complying with extant rules and regulations in the FCT.
He also informed the minister of an ongoing capacity-building project for young Nigerian entrepreneurs and innovators from across the country.
“We have a six-month programme where we take young Nigerian entrepreneurs and innovators from across the country. We bring them deliberately to Abuja because we say this is the capital, to help train them and give them mentorship from Israel and from local Nigerians, to help them to build their company, to create jobs, to create work and afterwards, we give them the opportunity for funding and finance to grow them”, he said
Chioma Kalu
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