아다마와주 학교기공식에서

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

 

It is my great pleasure to be here with you today to hold the Ground-Breaking Ceremony of the “Construction of the Elementary Schools in Adamawa and Gombe States.”

 

These Schools will be built by the Korea International Cooperation Agency(KOICA) under the Official Development Assistance Program of the Republic of Korea.

 

Since KOICA office in Nigeria was established in 2007, KOICA has implemented the grant-aid projects for construction of the elementary school from 2008. As a result, last year 37 classrooms of 10 schools in Kogi and Katsina States were constructed. As soon as that project successfully finished, here we are launching a project for the construction of 60 classrooms of 4 new schools in Adamawa and Gombe States. That is 2 schools in each State.

 

If this project successfully completed this year, do you know what will follow?

 

If you cooperate fully to the timely completion of this project and the government of Nigeria wants (of course we will do our best), a larger and more comprehensive project could be discussed. What we have in mind is a new project for the “Establishment of a model school complex including a kinder garden, an elementary school, a junior secondary school and a senior secondary school”.

 

Are you interested?

 

But this year we have to concentrate on building elementary schools in Adamawa and Gombe States.

 

Why we concentrate on education?

As you well know, Korea achieved its development in one generation. In other words, Korea transformed herself from aid receiving country to donor country.

 

How we achieved that?

The most important factor of the development was our dedication to human resource development.

 

That is why one of the priority projects of KOICA is investment in education. Nigeria is rich in human resources as well as natural resources which we don’t have. Therefore, I am sure Nigeria has big potential and will be developed as well, if Nigeria invests in education for the young generations.

 

Therefore the construction of these schools is not simply the construction of school buildings but an essential part of the construction of Nigeria’s future.

 

Contractors and workers!

Please keep in mind that you are building Nigeria’s future. You cannot be careless even in laying a brick.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Taking this opportunity, I would like to introduce other projects we are doing in Nigeria.

KOICA is implementing such projects as:

1.    Establishment of Vocational Training Center in Kogi State,

2.    Construction of Rice Processing Center in Niger State,

3.    Building of Agricultural Processing Centers in Enugu and Kogi States, and

4.    Improvement of Laboratory Infrastructure on HIV/AIDS.

 

And also KOICA is about to launch a project of ”Construction of Nigeria National Pediatric Hospital in Abuja”.

 

Furthermore, KOICA invited more than 200 Nigerian government officials to Korea in order to give them opportunities to learn Korea’s development experience and is planning to invite about 60 government officials this year.

 

What does this mean?

Korea and Nigeria is and will be the most suitable development partners. If we share our development experience, if we exploit the complimentary economic environment, we can be perfect partner countries.

 

Having said that, I really hope these projects are completed successfully and timely. I hope all related people help these projects to succeed.

 

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude for organizers of this ceremony and would like to thank the Governor and the people of Adamawa State for your warm welcome and hospitality.

 

Thank you.