Niger to partner UK in agric, others

The Niger State government has concluded plans to partner the United Kingdom in the areas of agriculture and vocational training as part of efforts to boost economic activities in the state.

Receiving the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Paul Arkwright, in his office yesterday in Minna, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, said the state was also collaborating with the United Kingdom on education.

He said as an agrarian state, the state government was exploring ways of encouraging the British government and its private investors to take interest in the many opportunities that abound in state.

He said the state would particularly welcome the establishment of agro-allied industries to directly tap from the abundant raw materials. He said textile is another area where the state would welcome investments from the United Kingdom.

Governor Sani Bello, who reiterated the state government’s commitment to education, noted that the on-going collaboration between the state and Cambridge University has been mutually beneficial.

The governor also noted that the state was prepared to leverage on the collaborative agreement with the Cambridge University (a British tertiary institution) to seek support in vocational training development.

The British High Commissioner said he was in the state to strengthen existing relationship and to see to the development of economic links between the United Kingdom and Niger.