The government of Lombardy, Italy, has pledged to establish a vocational training institute in Abuja and facilitate youth training programs in the region as part of a partnership with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
The commitment was made by the President of Lombardy Regional Government, Attilio Fontana, during a meeting in Milan with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. The discussions also explored areas of collaboration in agriculture, particularly modern farming technologies.
Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, noted that Wike emphasized the need for investments in agribusiness and vocational education in the FCT.
“We are aware that the Lombardy Region is strong in agriculture and vocational education. Our goal is to partner with you to attract investors into Abuja’s agricultural sector and to receive support in vocational training, especially in ICT and other skill acquisition programs,” Wike stated.
Highlighting Abuja’s agricultural potential, the Minister revealed that out of the FCT’s 800,000 hectares of land, 274,000 hectares have been designated for agricultural development, while 270,000 hectares are reserved as forest land. He stressed that developing this sector would create economic opportunities and reduce crime by engaging youth in productive ventures.
President Fontana affirmed Lombardy’s readiness to collaborate with the FCTA, particularly in technical education and innovation. “More than 30 percent of Italy’s technical education is concentrated in Lombardy, and we are willing to extend our expertise in vocational training to your country,” he assured.
The meeting also laid the groundwork for formalizing the partnership, with Fontana proposing an immediate drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to kickstart the collaboration.
The discussions were attended by key FCTA officials, including the Mandate Secretaries for Education, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, and Agriculture and Rural Development, Lawan Geidam.
The collaboration is expected to enhance skills development and agricultural productivity in Abuja, fostering economic growth and self-reliance among residents.