Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) speaks during his meeting with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan (L) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (Photo : Getty Images)
The National Assembly has begun plans in encouraging a technology transfer from China to Nigeria as part of the efforts in reducing the high rate of unemployment in the country. This was disclosed in Abuja at the Spring Festival Temple Fair, organized by the Chinese Embassy in conjunction with the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria.
Yusuf Buba Yakub, the Chairman and House Committee on Nigeria-China Relations, stated that the move would turn the country into an industrial hub.
He stated: “Nigeria and China have lot of activities together. As lawmakers, we make sure that the interest of our businessmen who go to China to trade is protected and that we try to see how we will encourage the technology transfer from China to Nigeria so that as I have said before, we will also become industrialized as the China people have become. Nigeria and China share so many things in common."
Buba also stated that the National Assembly was doing all that they can in ensuring that the interest of Nigerian businessmen in China is protected.
“If you talk about population," Yusuf added, "China is the most populated country in the world while Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa. And our Independence Day with China is on the same day, October 1. So we also have a lot to benefit from each other in terms of trade relation.
"If you bear me witness, you will see that in every home in Nigeria, you have at least one Chinese product. But we want to change the trend, instead of bringing in these things from China, we want to have a partnership with the Chinese businessmen so that we can produce these things in Nigeria."
China's Ambassador to Nigeria Zhou Pingjian also spoke at the fair. He pointed out that China and Nigeria are also cooperating in other areas such as trade, manufacturing, agriculture, and infrastructural development.
Zhou said: ”We are doing it one by one and we believe this mutual beneficial cooperation will bring more and more benefits to our two people."
