The President of the Lombardy Regional Government in Italy, Attilio Fontana, has pledged his government’s commitment to collaborating with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to enhance vocational education and agricultural development in Abuja.
As part of the partnership, Lombardy will establish a vocational training center in Abuja and facilitate training opportunities for youths from the FCT in Italy.
Speaking during a meeting in Milan with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Fontana emphasized the importance of modern farming technologies and technical education, noting that Lombardy is a leader in these sectors. He assured the FCTA of his region’s readiness to support skill acquisition and agribusiness development.
The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, highlighting the extensive discussions held between both parties.
Minister Wike expressed gratitude for the warm reception and reiterated the FCTA’s commitment to fostering investment in agriculture and vocational education.
“We have had discussions with your country’s ambassador in Nigeria to explore ways of exchanging ideas and collaborating with the Lombardy Region,” Wike said. “Lombardy is renowned for its expertise in agriculture and vocational training, and we seek to partner with you in these areas to benefit our youths and women, particularly in ICT and skill acquisition.”
He further highlighted Abuja’s vast arable land, noting that out of 800,000 hectares, 274,000 hectares are designated for agricultural development, while 270,000 hectares are reserved as forest land. According to him, investing in agribusiness in the FCT would be highly beneficial.
Wike also emphasized the importance of vocational training in reducing unemployment and crime. “Once our youths are empowered with skills, they can become self-employed, which will ultimately reduce crime rates,” he stated.
In response, President Fontana affirmed Lombardy’s strong industrial and educational background, noting that over 30% of Italy’s technical education is based in the region.
“We are eager to collaborate on vocational training, software education, and innovation, as these are crucial for the future. We can set up a vocational training facility in Abuja, and your youths can also come to Lombardy to learn,” Fontana assured.
When Minister Wike inquired about the next steps, including signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Fontana responded, “Today. Our office will prepare an MoU, and your officials can review and finalize it so we can begin immediately.”
On agricultural collaboration, Fontana noted that both teams would assess priority areas and determine how best to partner and provide assistance.
The meeting was attended by key officials, including the FCT Mandate Secretary for Education, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, and the Mandate Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, Lawan Geidam.
With this partnership, the FCTA and Lombardy Region are set to enhance vocational education and agriculture, creating new opportunities for youth development and economic growth in the FCT.
