Vanguard Nigeria
By Ediri Ejoh
Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, has called for an improved business relationship between Nigeria and Morocco, saying such will create mutual benefits for both countries and advancement of Africa’s economy. This was even as he described the recent decision of Morocco to return to Africa Union, AU, as a welcome development.
He noted that King Mohammed’s decision to return Morocco to the union it helped in founding made him Africa’s Man of the Decade. Speaking at the business forum organised by the Economic Enterprises and the Centre for Public Policy in Lagos, Obasanjo said: “I thank His Majesty, King Mohammed VI, for the decision to return to the AU.
‘’That decision, in my consideration, makes him African statesman of the year, in fact, African statesman of the decade.” The meeting, which was designed to enhance economic relationship between Nigeria and Morocco, dwelt on the theme, Morocco-Nigeria: Bridging The Synergies.
According to the former President, Nigeria has a lot to learn from both the political and economic reforms that have taken place in Morocco in recent time. “In the last three years, since I have been visiting Morocco, the transformation that has taken place is quite enormous. Great transformation has taken place in the area of development of infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, manufacturing.
’What has made this possible are relative peace, relative security, commitment, proximity to Europe, proximity to the Arab world,’’ Obasanjo said. He noted that that Nigeria’s most viable component to the relationship with Morocco was its huge population. He, however, stressed that population could turn out to be an assets or liability.
Speaking on the role of human capital development in ensuring the realization of the objective of the partnership, Ezekwesili said, “Our real assets are the people we have but they are not assets if most of them are not well educated, do not have global skills to be able to compete with the rest of the world. It is this kind of reform in education sector that brings forth the development we are crying for.
“Today, due to the development of Moroccans educational sector, they have become a case -study that even the immigrants’ skills are required by the labour market. That is a lesson for Nigeria,” she added.
