The French government has declared its readiness to offer a helping hand to the Abia state government to ensure the accelerated development of the state, especially in the areas of Agriculture and education.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Abia state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, the French ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Jerome Pasquier, described education as the key to the socio–economic development of any society. Pasquier added that the French government would collaborate with Abia state government in the execution of education related projects.
“We have several projects for your state and very soon you will receive a delegation for the commencement of these projects in the field of agriculture.
We also have possibilities of working with you in education, because education is important”, Pasquier told the governor.
The French envoy added that there was the need for more French presence in Abia state “as the French government is very keen to enter into partnership with your state government”.
Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Ikpeazu, said the state government has designed an educational development plan that makes provision of technical education its focus. He added that his administration would established technical educational institutions that would produce highly skilled manpower that will serve the manufacturing sector in the state.
“We want to build a youth ecosystem where people in need of skilled and certified manpower can go to. We need the prerequisite curriculum and training capacity to produce the kind of manpower that is needed. We hope you can create an avenue for Abia to benefit from your programmes for Nigeria,” the governor said.
Ikpeazu further said that the state government had embarked on an economic development project known as Enyimba Economic City, which he said was open to foreign investors.
He expressed the commitment of the government to attract foreign direct investment to Abia, and pledged its full support for such programme in order to ensure its success.