Abuja – Mr Nadav Goren, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Israel to Nigeria, on Friday said that the Israeli government would partner Nigeria in training ex-agitators in the Niger Delta in agriculture.
Mr Owei Lakemfa, Head, Media and Communications, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), said in a statement in Abuja on Friday that Goren spoke when he visited the Co-Ordinator of PAP, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh, in his office.
Lakemfa credited Goren as saying that Nigeria and Israel shared similar challenges of insecurity and commitment to agriculture.
He described agriculture as an assured path to food self-sufficiency and mass employment.
“I would ensure that the partnership with PAP takes into account knowledge-sharing and expertise in the field of agriculture, including the entrepreneurial interest of the beneficiaries,’’ Goren said.
On his part, Boroh described the partnership as a welcome idea, saying it would enhance the development of agriculture in Nigeria.
He said PAP was collaborating with various national and international groups on ways of training more beneficiaries of the programme in agriculture for job creation, food security and wealth creation.
“The Amnesty office is working in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that Nigerians should shift attention from oil to non-oil income, especially agriculture, to revamp the country’s economy.
“I want to acknowledge Israel’s agricultural exploits, and collaborating with Israel will add value to the Amnesty Programme, and will be of immense benefit to its beneficiaries,’’ Boroh said.
He urged the Israeli Chief of Mission to assist in making available his country’s expertise in agriculture to the Amnesty beneficiaries to enhance their sustainable re-integration to the society. (NAN)