Korea Urges Nigeria to Invest More in Education, Manpower

• Korea Urges Nigeria to Invest More in Education, Manpower

The Republic of Korea has called on the federal and state governments in Nigeria to invest more in education and the development of human capital.

According to the Asian nation, by so doing, Nigeria stands a greater chance of fully realising its potentials and also competing favourably with other advanced societies in the world.

Speaking during a lecture at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, during the week, Ambassador of Korea to Nigeria, Noh Kyu-Duk, noted that his country was ready to give all necessary assistance to Nigeria to support its progress.

He said, “Korea and Nigeria have collaborated for 37 years and I can say that we cherish the relationship between us.

“We have a very similar history with Nigeria. After colonialism, we also faced our own challenges but were able to surmount them by investing in education and developing our human capital. Today, all aspects of our economy and national life are thriving. I see Nigeria on that path as well and that is why education and human capital development must be taken seriously.”

Kyu-Duk, who restated his country’s commitment to a $15m model school project ongoing in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, said on completion, the facility would aid learning and capacity building among young people in the nation.

The Ambassador also revealed that the Korean Government had made financial pledge to support international efforts to tackle the humanitarian crisis in the North-East.

He said, “The provision of development assistance is one of the important foreign policies of the Korean government. There is a humanitarian crisis in the North-East region of Nigeria; we would like to participate in the international efforts to alleviate the hardship of displaced persons in the area.

“We were in Oslo, Norway, last week for a humanitarian conference on Nigeria and the Lake Chad region and we pledged a few million dollars towards the efforts.”