Nigerian Vice President, Kashim Shettima has said that 75% of Nigerians are below the age of 35, so the Federal Goverment are soliciting for Korea partnership and support in digital skills training for the young people, adding that Government want to create 1 million jobs in the digital world.
Shettima made this known on Monday when received a delegation from the Republic of Korea led by the Special Envoy to the President, H.E. Jang Sungmin, at the Presidential Villa, restating Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening relations with Korea in promoting trade, technology transfer and maintaining global peace.
According to him, “we are willing to partner with you in the area of technology because by 2030, there will be 65% global talent deficit with the US, Russia and Brazil suffering 6 million talent deficit. I believe Nigeria is in a unique position to fill in those talent deficits because ours is a young nation.
“India earned $120B last year from global outsourcing and we are in a unique position to take advantage of the opportunities in the sector. We need the skills set, we need the technology to drive the process and yours is a technology that we can embrace”, he said.
Shettima stated further that Nigeria and Korea have very robust bilateral relationship that is anchored on years of mutual trust, cooperation. “A lot of Korean companies are doing business in Nigeria especially in the area of oil and gas. Six of our LNG trains were constructed by Korean companies.”
“We are fully committed to a very robust relationship between our nations. We need to learn a lot from Korea especially in the areas of manufacturing and agriculture. You are a success story worthy of emulation by all developing nations.”
He observed that “many years ago in the 50s and 60s, the Korean GDP was at par with many African countries but today, Korea is among the developed nations. This is partly due to the leadership and commitment of the Korean people.”
The Vice President then assured the Korean Government of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to partner with Korea to strengthen relations with both countries especially balancing the trade deficit between the two countries.
On the agenda of the new administration, Shettima noted that “security and economic development is the focus of our government. “The government will make it easier for Korean businesses and other foreign investors to do business in Nigeria.
“Korea has always supported us in the international fora and we have that obligation to reciprocate by supporting Korean businesses operating in Nigeria.” Assuring the Korean delegation that the President will honour invitation of his Korean counterpart to Africa-Korea summit in 2024.
He added, “be rest assured that Nigeria truly appreciates the Republic of Korea support to Nigeria in multilateral institutions, in the UN General Assembly, in our quest for a seat in the security council and in several UN bodies.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Korea (H.E. Yoon Suk Yeol), Mr. Jang Sungmin, who congratulated Nigeria for the successful inauguration of the new government, conveyed special invitation from President Yoon to his Nigerian counterpart, Bola Tinubu, to attend the forthcoming Africa-Korea Summit in South Korea.
He also restated his country’s continuous support for Nigeria across different sectors, noting that Korea’s “collaboration with Nigeria can lead 4th Industrial Revolution,” maintaining that the country’s “development is akin to Nigeria’s development.”
