Michael Olugbode in Abuja
Nigeria and Cuba are to sign bilateral agreements that will cover education, science and technology as well as other sectors.
The Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Miriam Palmero disclosed this at the weekend during the celebration of 65th anniversary of the triumph of Cuban Revolution and 50th years bilateral relations with Nigeria.
The envoy said: “We have an agreement on education and about 300 Nigerians are studying in Cuba and more in the nearest future.
“We are signing another Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in science and technology, cultural and agriculture amongst others.
“We want to collaborate with Nigeria. This is my second home and I want to increase our relations economically and in other areas.”
She noted that Nigeria and Cuba share common values and are committed to the education of their citizens.
Also speaking on the occasion, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman solicited Cuban support to revive the education agreement between both countries.
The minister of education, who was represented on the occasion by Ruqayatu Gurin, a Director in the Ministry, said diplomatic relations between the two countries have impacted several young Nigerian doctors.
“Let me use this unique opportunity to solicit the support of the Cuban government to revive our bilateral relationship on education with renewed vigour in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
“Therefore, I call on the government of Cuba to extend hands of fellowship to explore academic exchange, scholarships, research, cultural interactions, and other areas of mutual benefit with Nigeria,” he said.
The minister added that the diplomatic relations between the two countries have impacted several young Nigerian doctors as well as contributed to the development of the Nigerian Education Sector under a legal framework and a protocol of implementation signed on March 24, 1981 within the existing omnibus agreement.
“Through the existing bilateral agreement on education between Nigeria and Cuba, about 100 Nigerian students benefitted from scholarship programmes in the fields of medicine and engineering offered by the Cuban government between 2000 and 2012. I extend our gratitude to the Government of Cuba and I hope that this cooperation is sustained,” he added.
