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Nigeria’s strongest selling point remains an “intellectually aggressive
and economically ambitious’’ populace that always seeks self-improvement
and self-actualization in any part of the world, President Muhammadu
Buhari said Monday in Rabat, Morocco.
In an audience with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Morocco,
Saadeddine Othmani, at the Royal Guest Palace, President Buhari said
Nigeria’s “visionary and resilient population’’ works hard to always
position the country for more growth, fuelled by a largely youthful group
that continually wants to contribute to development.
“Nigerians are intellectually aggressive and economically ambitious. I
received some of our students here yesterday and I am really impressed
with the zeal and fearlessness they exuded.
“In Nigeria we have a very young and aggressive population and we are
working very hard to create the enabling and inclusive environment for
their contributions to be better appreciated,’’ the President told the
Prime Minister.
President Buhari said his government is harnessing the human and material
resources available in the country, especially in the educational and
agricultural sectors, while seeking partnerships with countries that can
explore the huge potentials in Nigeria.
The President noted that Nigeria was already on the verge of an
agricultural revolution as the importation of rice had been cut down by 90
per cent in 18 months.
“We need to do more to improve our statistics on food production and
graciously, the weather has been auspicious in the last couple of years
for agricultural growth. We are happy that through partnership with you
and hard work the price of fertilizer is already down by 50 per cent,’’ he
said.
On the three agreements signed during his visit, namely, Nigeria-Morocco
Gas Pipeline project, vocational training in agriculture and building of a
chemical plant in Nigeria, the President assured the Prime Minister that
they will receive appropriate attention.
“We have a huge gas reserve in Nigeria, and we should be known more for
gas exploration than for crude oil. So, we are happy with the new
partnership with Morocco,’’ he added.
In his remarks, the Prime Minister said his country had always been
impressed by Nigeria’s intellectual zeal and strength, noting that “many
Moroccans appreciate the intellectual contribution of Nigerians,
especially in literary works.’’
“Your visit to our country is historic and we are looking forward to more
partnerships, especially among our universities, which would further
consolidate our relationship,’’ Othman said.
President Buhari also met with the head of the Moroccan legislature, Habib
El Malki and the President of the Advisers on Commerce, Ben Chemmas.
The Nigerian leader ended his two-day visit to the Kingdom of Morocco with
a visit to the mausoleum where he laid wreaths on the tombs of past kings.