March 26, 2018

The President, Brazil Africa Institute, Professor Joao Bosco on Monday said that collaboration between Nigeria and Brazil would unlock potential in agricultural advancement for food security and youth empowerment in Nigeria.

Bosco told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the institute had programmes that could unite and drive development in  Brazil and Africa including  Nigeria.

He identified unemployment, knowledge, skills as some areas, “Africa and Brazil should be fixing’’.

He said that meaningful discussions about economic and social development between both countries must centre around  youth empowerment.

He said that the theme for the upcoming 6th Brazil Africa Forum organised by the Institute would focus on youth empowerment.

NAN reports that the event would hold between August and November, 2018.

He also urged the Federal Government, the private sector and the academia to tap into opportunities for youth empowerment in the institute’s Youth Technical Training Program (YTTP).

“This year, after the discussions we had with local authorities, we decided to have special sessions dedicated to Nigeria.

“So they need to bring groups of between 20 Nigerians and 30 Nigerians to be trained in cassava-value chain and other commodities,’’ he told NAN.

He said that the Institute would give priority to Nigerian youths as it opens its first office in Ghana on Tuesday, March 27.

Bosco also said that plans were also on the way to set up offices in Nigeria and other parts of the continent.

The institute’s president also commended the agricultural policies of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

He  called for more areas of cooperation between Nigeria and Brazil, which he said had several things in common.

“I think that agriculture is a very important agenda and I am very pleased that the President of Nigeria is addressing agriculture.

“That is an  important role that his government should play.

“When we talk about agriculture, Brazil can bring many possible solutions to Nigeria.

“I am sure that the President, universities and the private sector can knock at the Brazilian doors so that we can do things together.

“The Institute is one of the doors that the government can knock on for a start.

“Agriculture is one priority for us and if we do things properly, we will see good results in Nigeria.

“If you look back 30 years ago, you see similarities between Brazil and Nigeria.

“Nigeria is very connected to Brazil, if you go to Salvador for example, which is one important Brazilian city, you will see some African memories there,’’ he said.

He said that the Africa Brazil Institute was set up to unite, explore and develop qualities and potential of both countries.

“The Atlantic Ocean does not divide Brazil and Africa, what the Atlantic does is to unite the two regions and to link both sides.

“The Brazil African Institute aims at uniting the two sides.

“Every time I come to Nigeria, I see a very good opportunity for Brazil to dialogue, to discus, to do trade, business, to interact with the country.

“I also see an opportunity for Nigerians to come to our country to see, to meet, and to have better vision.

“The Brazil Africa Forum would be a better agenda for Nigeria if Nigeria comes to participate deeply,’’ he said.

Bosco said that the Brazil African Forum usually targeted decision makers who would be able to formulate policies to drive the development initiatives.

He said that the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh attended the  4th Brazilian African  Forum in 2016.