Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja September 17, 2023
The Vice President Kashim Shettima-led Nigerian delegation to the G77+China Summit, in Havana, Cuba, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cuba to strengthen collaboration on Innovation, Science and Technology.
According to a statement issued Saturday evening by the Director of Information in the office of the Vice President, Mr Olusola Abiola, the signing ceremony, which took place on the sidelines of the G77+China Summit, at Hotel Palco La Habana, is the high point of Nigeria’s participation at the summit.
The Minister of Innovation, Science & Technology, Uche G. Nnaji, signed on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, after which he praised President Bola Tinubu for his visionary leadership, which has resulted in the signing of the agreement.
He assured that Nigeria would maximise the opportunities provided by the bilateral agreement, emphasising that the implementation of the agreement will commence in earnest.
He expressed his determination to put in place the appropriate mechanism to work out the modalities for programme of action.
The Vice President averred that Nigeria places high premium on South-South cooperation as a platform for promoting sustainable development of the global South.
The bilateral agreement would focus on R&D as well as human resource development would further deepen partnership between the two countries.
The areas of cooperation covered by the bilateral agreement include biotechnology; scientific Investigation and innovation; technological development; human resources development; specialist Exchange in the area of Science and Technology; technologies transfer for development areas.
It would be recalled that before the commencement of the Summit, the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima had told Cuba’s Vice President during his visit to him, that Nigeria would use the opportunity offered by the Summit to sign very important MOU with Cuba for agricultural, scientific and technological development.
The historic event was witnessed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Adamu Lamuwa, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Cuba, Amb. Ben Okoyen and other senior government officials.
