The European Union (EU) has pledged to support Nigeria in improving quality and standards of “Made in Nigeria” agriproducts to make them internationally competitive.
The Union made the pledge in a communiqué issued at the end of the EU-Nigeria Business Forum held in Lagos on Friday, ahead of the AU-EU summit scheduled to hold in Abidjan between Nov 20 and Nov 30.
The forum explored ways of further strengthening trade relations between EU and Nigeria through partnership agreements and identifying value chains with high inclusive growth potential and investing in the right mix of skills.
It noted with concern that while “Nigerian government promotes youth participation in agriculture, access to financing is still a challenge”.
The forum harped on the need to develop the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) sector in Nigeria.
“The ICT sector will give 80 per cent of the population access to information via internet in the next few years and become a future major source of revenue for the country.
“EU companies strongly believe in the opportunities this sector offers and are planning investments in the country.
“The European Investment Bank (EIB) and African Development Bank are supporting ICT investments with a 150million euros Investment platform tagged “Boost Africa,” it said,
It noted that the recently launched 4.1 billion euros European External Investment Plan and the EU-West Africa Economic Partnership Agreement would further attract investments and promote Nigeria’s agribusiness exports.
The forum stressed that enormous financial gains could be made every year, if discriminatory laws and policies were changed to empower women in the workforce and as entrepreneurs.
“Moreover, 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population is youth and its compelling force and energies need to be harnessed through empowerment and education.
“Gender balance, women and youth empowerment will be at the core of discussions that will take place at the AU-EU Summit in Abidjan on 29-30 November 2017.”
The Minister of Communications Technology, Mr Adebayo Shittu and that of Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh attended the occasion.
Also present at the forum the communique stated were the Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr Olufemi Odubiyi, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Ogun State, Mrs Adepeju Adebajo and, and the Special Assistant on Youth to the President, Mr Nasir Adahama.
The Ambassadors and Consulars-General of the EU countries and many key Nigerian players and stakeholders were also in attendance among others. (NAN)
IAA/DUA