Liberian
President George Weah has called on the Nigerian government to provide
6000 teachers to his country as part of the Technical Assistance
agreement between the two nations.
Speaking
Monday shortly after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu
Buhari at the State House Presidential Villa in Abuja, Mr. Weah said his
government inherited many problems which can only be tackled with
assistance from countries like Nigeria.
Mr.
Weah was inaugurated into office on January 22 after defeating immediate
past vice president Joseph Boakai of the Unity Party.
Addressing
journalists after his meeting with Mr. Buhari, the Liberian leader
identified some of the urgent problems facing his country as youth
unemployment, as well as the need to revive the education, agriculture,
mining and health sectors.
“Your
sustained technical assistance for capacity building in these sectors is
most welcome. For example, Nigerian teachers and medical volunteers to
Liberia, under the Technical Assistance Corps TAC) Agreement with
Liberia, have been very crucial in boosting capacity development in
Liberia, and it is my hope that this assistance can be considerably
increased to address with urgency our most pressing socio-economic needs
at this time.
“More
specifically, under the Bilateral Teacher Exchange programme, we are
seeking 6,000 plus teachers to make up for the shortage of good teachers
in our educational system,” he said.
Mr.
Weah thanked Mr. Buhari for the invitation extended to him and said his
delegation was on a mission of “gratitude and respect for the
extraordinary and exceptional role that you, our Nigerian brothers and
sisters, have played and continue to play in maintaining peace and
stability in the West African sub-region, and more particularly, in
Liberia”.
He
said although Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa, “with the most
powerful army in our sub-region, you have never used your wealth and
military prowess to expand your territory, threaten your neighbours, or
destabilise any sovereign nation in the region”.
He
also said the prices of Liberia’s two basic export commodities, rubber
and iron ore, continue to fall on the world market, which have
diminished the country’s foreign exchange earnings from the export of
the commodities.
He
asaid most export earnings of Liberia is used mainly to import food and
other commodities, causing massive trade deficits while youth
unemployment is at an all-time high, and prices of basic commodities
continue to increase.
“Our
people have voted for change, and for hope. And change is finally here.
But mere political change is meaningless without development, prosperity
and growth.
“Your
Excellency, we need Nigeria’s help to jump-start our economy. You played
a major role in bringing peace to Liberia, you reformed our Army and
today it is performing its duties to the highest professional standards.
As we speak, they are serving in a peace-keeping mission in Mali.
“You
have also built and expanded the capacities of Liberians in so many
ways. For example, during our recent observance of Armed Forces Day in
Liberia, we were informed that two of our military personnel will soon
be graduating as pilots from one of your esteemed institutions.
“We would like to see a continuation and expansion of that programme, for both men and women,” he said.
Liberia is open for Nigerian businesses
Mr. Weah also declared that Liberia is now open for business to the Nigerian private sector.
He
said there is a need to address the current volume of trade between the
two countries, which is very low and does not exceed five million
dollars, by some estimates.
“Yet,
the Liberian banking sector is dominated by Nigerian banks, and I am
made to understand that their Head offices in Nigeria may be considering
reducing their support or even shutting them down because of the recent
downturn in our economy.
“If this is true, I urge them not to do so, as l am optimistic that trade and commerce will increase in the near future.
“There
are also major shortcomings in the electricity and power sectors, in
road construction, in housing, in mining, and in fisheries, to name a
few, that could be of serious interest to Nigerian investors, either as
individuals or companies, or through joint-ventures or public-private
partnerships.
“ We
invite all of you to come to Liberia and explore the many new
opportunities for investment that abound to increase under this new
political dispensation. I promise you that you will find a government
that is not only business friendly, but ready to do business.
“On a
personal note, President Buhari, it is my intention, with all due
respect and affection, to frequently seek your wise counsel and advice
as we embark upon this arduous task of nation-building, reconstruction,
and transformation of my country.
“Nigeria’s
historical benevolence towards Liberia cannot be quantified. And once
again, we seek your urgent and critical assistance,” he said.
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