France congratulates Kwara gov on re-election, nomination as NGF chairman
AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq
The French Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships, Mrs. Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, has congratulated Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, on his re-election and nomination as Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
Zacharopoulou, who visited Ilorin, yesterday, to mark the growing co-operation of France with Kwara State in agriculture and culture, was accompanied by Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi.
Together, the diplomatic parties witnessed the signing of two significant agreements, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Kwara State and the French company, BRLI, tasked with conducting a 500,000 EUR feasibility study granted by the French authorities on modernisation of livestock value-chain in the Lata grazing reserve.
The second MoU is the formalisation of the relocation of the Alliance Française Ilorin within the Innovation Hub, which is an offer of Kwara State governor for a space of 120 m².
The French Government acknowledged that the development would enable the cultural and linguistic centre to attract its public in modern classrooms and facilities.
The Embassy of France and the French Ministry of Foreign affairs will also contribute to the relocation of the Alliance through a grant of €10,000, which complements the yearly operating grant. This partnership, according to the French Government, demonstrates the shared vision of giving younger generation access to quality education and skills that will enable them to thrive.
The French officials visited both the Ilorin Innovation Hub and the Ilorin Visual Arts Centre, with the aim to transform Kwara State into an economically viable and self-sustainable state via digital literacy, technology and culture and to foster partnership between Nigeria and France.
Subsequently, the French Minister of State, during another visit to the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), expressed optimism on the development of the centre chosen by the French authorities as a pilot training centre to implement a 600,000 EUR grant programme dedicated to the development of technical education of women in agriculture.
