From Linus Oota, Lafia
Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura has solicited the support of countries like Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark to develop real estates, agriculture, health, special education for the physically challenged as well as ICT and energy to boost the revenue base of the state and create job opportunities for the youths.
The governor who stated this in Lafia when he hosted the Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian and Danish ambassadors to Nigeria, explained that his administration was trying to package a comprehensive special school for the physically challenged, which is the largest in Nigeria, adding that he was determined to prove to the people that physical disability is not a barrier to a willing soul.
He said the school which will be the first of its kind, would fully take off by January next year, noting that it would take care of all categories of people with disabilities and both genders to ensure that every disabled person in the state was fully incorporated and urged the foreign envoys to see how they can bring their expertise in the area, to assist the school.
Governor Almakura equally sought their support to key into the smart city concept which is becoming a globally accepted standard, stating that the state was in the process of developing 13,000 hectares of land close to the FCT and urged them to partner with the state in the areas of real estate and housing.
In their separate speeches, the Swedish ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Inger Ultvedt, said her country would partner the state in the areas of education while that of Finland, Mrs Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury and the Danish ambassador, Mr Torben Gettermann, noted that the state has vast agricultural potentials and assured that they would invest in the state to harness her full potentials.
The Norwegian ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Jens-Petter Kjemprud, said Nigeria’s relationship with Norway dated back to 1890 and the two countries had been partnering in various ways. He said that his country would look into the issue of energy generation with a view to investing in hydropower electricity to help improve the revenue base of the state as well as the area of ICT to create jobs for the youths.