The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, on Tuesday received the Chief Executive Officer of Lorenzo, Dr. Matteo Prosper, when he paid a courtesy visit that marked the beginning of a promising collaboration between the organization and the Nigerian government aimed at revolutionizing technical and vocational education in the country.
A statement issued by the ministry’s, Director, Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, quoted the minister in his opening remarks during the visit as harping on the urgency of equipping Nigeria’s youth with the skills needed to thrive in an evolving global economy.
He said: “Our youth represent 65% of the population, and their future hinges on the quality of education and skill development we can provide. This collaboration with Lorenzo is not just a partnership; it is a transformative step towards achieving international standards of training and certification that will unlock unprecedented opportunities for our young people.”
Mamman reaffirmed the Federal Government’s pledge to expedite the operationalization of this partnership, and directed the ministry’s Director of Polytechnic and Allied Institutions, Dr. Ejeh Usman, to engage Lorenzo’s representatives and develop a strategic plan for implementation, including the terms of collaboration and key performance indicators.
He expressed optimism that the collaboration would play a pivotal role in realizing the present administration’s vision for Nigeria for youth empowerment that will make them to become innovative entrepreneurs, creating jobs and driving economic growth, or highly sought-after professionals, thereby contributing to Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
Earlier in his remarks, Lorenzo’s CEO expressed his company’s determination to support Nigeria’s educational aspirations.
He promised: “Lorenzo, with its decades of experience in technical education, is eager to bring its expertise to Nigeria. Our proposed project is designed to meet the specific needs of Nigeria’s technical education sector, ensuring that students are not only skilled but are also prepared for the demands of modern industries.”
He introduced the core elements of the project, emphasizing Lorenzo’s long-standing commitment to creating solutions tailored to the unique needs of each country.
Prosper affirmed that the project, developed in collaboration with Lorenzo’s African Manager, Mr. Roland Ruhuanuriza, and Mr Netufo Jasper Oluranti of Whitecloud TVET, is poised to bring about significant improvements in technical education across Nigeria.
The African Regional Manager for Lorenzo, Mr. Roland Ruhuanuriza, unveiled the vision for the “Tinubu Renewed Hope Centre of Excellence”, which is set to become a beacon of technical and vocational education in Nigeria, offering short-term, intensive courses in fields such as electronics, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and civil engineering.
He said: “Our goal is to rapidly transform Nigerian youth into skilled workers who can drive the nation’s industrialization efforts. The establishment of this Centre will not only cater to local industries but will also position Nigeria as an attractive destination for international investment.”
The meeting ended with a mutual commitment to the swift implementation of the groundbreaking initiative, which promises to be a major milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards industrial and economic transformation.
