The Rwandan Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Christophe Bazivamo has said that his country is ready to establish economic and educational relationships with Ogun State for mutual benefits of both parties.
Ambassador Bazivamo, who stated this while fielding questions from newsmen after a meeting with Governor Dapo Abiodun in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, noted that Ogun State has achieved much in the area of education and industrialization, hence the need for his home country to tap from the experience.
He said: “I have participated in the ongoing trade organized by the state government. At the fair, I had the opportunity to interact with the governor, and I am here in his office to share what we are doing back home and learn from the governor’s development strides.
“I am also here to find out how we can move forward together because my country believes in the South-South cooperation, and we know that Ogun State is doing well in the industry, education, and other areas.
“When you are developing industry as the right choice and in the right direction, especially in a state where more than 65 to 70 percent of the population are young people, you are creating jobs and once people are consuming locally made products, it helps grow local industries and makes jobs available for the people.”
The Envoy said Rwanda is looking at how to further develop its industries to produce goods and skills for the youths to help them prosper.
He said his country was thinking in the direction of establishing and strengthening relationship with Nigerian businessmen, saying that Rwandan Private Sector Federation is ready to go into partnership with the Ogun State Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, trade together, exchange ideas and work on building sustainable partnership.
Ambassador Bazivamo revealed that Rwanda and Nigeria have already signed an agreement on the Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation, but we are waiting for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for even planning and perfection before implementation.
“I also discussed with the governor how our businessmen can collaborate and be of help to each other because this is something that can be helpful to both sides, especially our young generation.
“We believe in partnership. We also believe in the African Continental Trade Area. You can not move alone in that direction. You need to be together with others. When you see traders wherever they are, they have innovation, and when you see what they have compared to what you have, you will wish to link together.
“What I have seen in Ogun State when it comes to industries, is that they are producing locally and I believe some people can come from Rwanda, learn from here and take the lesson back and replicate it in our country,” the Ambassador added.