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The High Commissioner of Pakistan to Nigeria, Agha Mohammad Umar Farooq paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Education last week. His country and Nigeria struck a major deal, agreeing to scale up the two countries’ relations in the area of education.
Mr. Farooq, who was received by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. (Mrs.) Folasade Yemi-Esan, on behalf of the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah, noted that his country and Nigeria have had good relationship, especially in the area of education and wants the relationship to be strengthened.
He said that the cordial relationship has led to the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which he noted is yet to be signed; and expressed the need of signing the document.
Furthermore, the High Commissioner expressed his country’s readiness to assist Nigeria in the area of capacity building of teachers at the tertiary level of the education system and intervention in the Basic and Secondary levels. This is even as he acceded to the request of expanding scholarship award slots to Nigeria under the Bilateral Scholarship Award Agreement (BEA).
While responding, the Permanent Secretary thanked the High Commissioner for the visit, acknowledging Pakistani’s long standing support to Nigeria in the development of the Education sector.
She said Nigeria is keen to strengthening her relationship with Pakistan, saying that the Ministry will fast-track the processes of signing the MoU.
Dr. Yemi-Esan said that the desire to intervene in the secondary education level, particularly in technical and vocation education will be desirable. This is even as she asked for more scholarship award slots under the Bilateral Scholarship Award Agreement.