Govt signs MoU with Huawei  to create 2,000 trainee jobs

China pledges support for Nigeria’s war against insurgency
THE Federal Government and a leading Chinese technology firm, Huawei yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which aimed at creating over 2,000 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) trainee jobs to young Nigerians next year under the “Huawei’s Seeds for the Future Programme.”

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, at the signing of the MoU in his office, said the action was part of the desire of the Buhari government to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

In a statement from the VP’s media office in Abuja, the Vice President who was joined by the Minister for Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, and his Communications counterpart, Adebayo Shittu, said, “ICT is one of the quickest ways people can get decent jobs, so we think this is absolutely important.”

At an event also attended by the Chinese Ambassador Mr. Gu Xiaojie, Osinbajo said the relationship between Nigeria and China is a strategic one, and urged Chinese investors and business leaders to consider Nigeria for manufacturing plants. He said the Chinese investors “should encourage not just the selling, but also the manufacturing of products in Nigeria.” This he said would lead to the mutual prosperity for both countries.

Nigeria’s ministers for Labour and Communications, whose ministries would select the 2,000 trainees, signed the MoU on behalf of the Federal Government while Mr. Richard Cao, the Vice President of Huawei West Africa signed for the Chinese information communication and technology firm.

The ICT training initiative strives to create a platform to nurture work-ready ICT Experts by providing authentic ICT industry-relevant education.

In another development, the government of the Peoples Republic of China has pledged to support the war against insurgency currently being executed in the Northeast by the Nigerian military.

A statement issued by the acting Director of Defence Information (DDI), Col. Rabe Abubakar, yesterday in abuja said the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie, while on a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Abayomi Olonisakin, “assured the Nigerian Armed Forces of the Chinese government’s readiness to partner in the current fight against insurgency.”