- Vice President Kashim Shettima emphasizes collaboration with the EU to create digital job opportunities and address migration challenges
- Shettima sees the EU as an ideal partner for Nigeria’s employment initiatives and potential collaboration to benefit Africa’s development
Vice President Kashim Shettima has emphasized the importance of collaboration in creating digital job opportunities for citizens.
He made the announcement on Thursday, when the managing director of the European Union’s External Action Service, Rita Laranjinha, briefed him on the upcoming Ministerial Dialogue, which will take place on October 19, 2023.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the VP’s media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima expressed concerns about migration issues and urged the EU to work with the Tinubu administration to address this challenge by encouraging job growth in the digital sector.
He noted that the EU’s agenda perfectly aligns with the Tinubu administration’s eight-point agenda, making it an ideal partner for initiatives aimed at increasing employment in Nigeria.
Shettima emphasized the potential for the EU and Nigeria to collaborate on projects and programs that would benefit not only Nigerians but also the entire African continent’s development.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s determination to remain open to effective interventions, adding that mutually beneficial partnerships remained a top priority in President Tinubu’s foreign policy directive.
He maintained that the Tinubu administration is a breath of fresh air, observing that “the nation, like a phoenix, will rise from the ashes of despair and soar.”
“Support us, and we will support not only West Africa but the entire African continent due to the Domino effect.” We are working hard to reposition this country.
“God has blessed this country.” We haven’t even used half of our arable and fertile land, let alone our abundant human resources. “We are ready to collaborate with the EU on mutually beneficial projects and programs that benefit Nigerians,” the VP stated.
Earlier, Laranjinha, who led the EU delegation, stated that she was in the country ahead of the Ministerial Dialogue with Nigerian officials scheduled for October 19.
“The Vice President of the EU Mission will preside over this Ministerial Dialogue.” He will be in Nigeria to meet with members of the Nigerian government to assess the EU-Nigeria relationship in various areas and plan the next steps in this relationship.
“It was clear today that there is a lot of common interest in the relationship, but there is still a lot we can do.” Nigeria is important in the region, continent, and world, and the EU wants to ensure that we are Nigeria’s preferred partner,” Laranjinha stated.
She thanked the Vice President for his assistance and stated that the EU delegation was committed to collaborating closely with Nigeria in the areas of trade, investments, energy, digitalization, peace, and security.