The Lombardy Regional Government in Italy has pledged to establish a vocational training institute in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, to enhance technical education and youth empowerment.

Lombardy President, Attilio Fontana, made the commitment during a meeting with FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, in Milan. He emphasized the region’s strength in industry, battery manufacturing, and agriculture, expressing readiness to share expertise with Nigeria.

“You know that Lombardy Region is very strong in industry and battery manufacturing apart from agriculture,” Fontana stated. “We are willing to collaborate with you in the education of the future because a lot of education is about software, innovation, technology, and it is very important.”

He highlighted that Lombardy accounts for over 30 percent of Italy’s technical education, adding, “We can establish something on vocational training in your country, and you can also come here to learn our kind of education.”

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Beyond vocational training, the partnership will also focus on modern farming techniques. Fontana assured that his team would work with the FCT Administration to identify priority areas and explore ways to enhance agriculture in Abuja.

Wike welcomed the partnership, emphasizing the FCT’s vast agricultural potential, with over 274,000 hectares of land designated for farming. “Ours is to see how we can partner to have investors in agriculture in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, and to also get assistance in vocational education to train our youths and women, especially in ICT and other skills acquisitions,” he said.

He stressed that vocational training is key to reducing unemployment and crime by equipping youths with digital and technical skills. “Once our youths can employ themselves and are taken off the streets, crime will reduce,” Wike added.

The initiative is expected to commence once a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, is finalized and signed.

NAN