The President of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has stated his country’s readiness to partner with the Federal Republic of Nigeria in key areas of the economy.
He disclosed this when he received the First Lady, Remi Tinubu, in his office in Belarus.
According to a statement by the media aide of the Nigeria’s First Lady, Busola Kukoyi, on Wednesday, the Belarusian President highlighted some of the areas Belarus was looking at for cooperation between the two countries to include agriculture, food processing, industry and education.
The President, who spoke through an interpreter, pointed out that Senator Tinubu’s visit has further strengthened his administrations resolve to enhance bilateral relations with Nigeria, noting that one key area they would be hoping to collaborate was on specialists training.
“We know your needs and we know the possibilities that you have. Let me underline that these possibilities are important and significant for us. We can render significant assistance to you and you can reciprocate for us.
“We are willing to explore deeper collaboration in the area of education with your country.
“Please ask President Bola Tinubu for the visit of our Minister of Foreign Affairs to your country so we can develop these areas of collaboration further,” President Lukashenko was quoted as saying.
Responding, the First Lady of Nigeria thanked the President, especially for providing 20 Nigerian students full scholarship through her initiative, Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
She explained to President Lukashenko that the RHI is currently involved in empowering women, especially through the Women in Agriculture programme, which is a way to improve on food security and production in Nigeria.
She assured that Nigeria would also be reaching out further to the Republic of Belarus to see how the desired collaboration between the two nations would be pursued.
Earlier, the First Lady had met with the Belarusian Minister of Education, Andrey Ivanets, who pointed out that there is currently a Nigerian student population, which is about 600 in the country.
Ivanets said the students who are studying in various fields were doing very well academically and that his Ministry looks forward to formalising a bilateral agreement with Nigeria.
He said the Belarusian government hopes to establish Specialists Training Centers in Nigeria.
Senator Tinubu, during the meeting, pointed out that Work Experience programme of the Republic of Belarus is very commendable and would be explored by Nigeria.
During the First Lady’s visit, she also met with the Speaker of Belarus Parliament, Ms Natalya Kochanova, and members of the Women’s Union of Belarus made of women professionals from all sectors.
