Abia Seeks Partnership With Israel On Human Capital Development

Abia State government has sought for a partnership with the Israeli government on human capital development, agriculture, digital economy, and micro-small and medium enterprise.

The governor, Alex Otti, stated this when the Israeli ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Umuahia, the state capital.

“I’m more enamoured to listen to you speak passionately about some of the things that are so important to us as a government and as a people,” he said

“I’m very happy and I can tell you without any fear of contradiction that the state government will partner with you and work closely with you. Listening to you, I observed that you have a clear understanding of how the economy works. I also noticed that you have done extensive research on things that are important to us,” the governor said.

Earlier, Freeman said his country and Nigeria have much in common in agriculture, enterprising spirit, and growing youth population.

He said the youths are innovative and determined to do better than their peers elsewhere as well as continually striving to excel in their chosen fields of endevours.

He further said his country is in partnership with the federal government under a programme entitled “Innov8” to train young Nigerian entrepreneurs and innovators

“We mentor them for six to nine months and at the end of the programme, we help them attract funding,”

The ambassador observed that the state and his country could do much together in the area of agriculture, using technology and innovation.

“We are blessed to have leading agriculture experts in the world and specifically in areas of cassava, rice and cocoa production.

He commended Otti for the prevailing security in the state and his leader quality, and expressed delight that his visit to the state coincided with the 76th independence anniversary of his country.