The Honorable Minister of Education (HME), Professor Tahir Mamman, OON, SAN, has said that Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates were committed to exploring educational opportunities available in the two countries especially in the fields of research, scholarship, exchange of programs and transfer of knowledge, among others.
Professor Mamman made this known recently, when the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Saleem Saeed Alshamsi paid him a courtesy call at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja.
The Honorable Minister said, Nigeria was interested in studying the development model of the United Arab Emirates which, according to him, had made Dubai a global Shopping centre, adding that Nigeria stood to benefit from that model given the enormous potentials and resources the country commanded.
He pointed out that he admired the way and manner the United Arab Emirates had overcome the challenges of climate change and adverse weather conditions to become one of the global destinations of choice, adding that the need for the two countries to work together couldnot be overemphasized.
Professor Tahir maintained that the world was one indivisible entity, emphasizing that international collaboration was aptly needed, more than ever before, to make the world a better place for all. He used the occasion to appeal to his Excellency to help resolve the impasse surrounding the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) and flight operations between the two countries.
Earlier in his address to the Honorable Minister, His Excellency Ambassador Saleem Saeed Alshamsi, appealed to the Minister to help conclude the processes and signing of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.
He also requested the Minister to visit the Emirates, adding that his country’s Minister of Higher Education was keen to meet the Nigerian Minister of Education, in order to advance the educational interest of the two countries.
Reflecting on 41years of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates, Ambassador Alshamsi applauded the Nigerian people as very hardworking and one of the greatest talents in Africa.