[Niger] AfDB commits $4 billion to boost vocational and technical training

The African Development Bank (ADB) Group President, Akinwumi Adesina, has concluded his two-day official visit to Niger with a visit to the Kalmaharo Technical High School in Niamey, supported by the Bank as part of the Support Project for the Development of Vocational and Technical Education and Training.

Accompanied by the Minister of Planning, Aïchatou Kané Boulama, governor of the ADB for Niger, President Adesina was welcomed on site by the Minister of Professional and Technical Education, Tidjani Idrissa Abdoulkadri.

"We are soliciting additional funding of CFAF 4 billion to strengthen our vocational and technical education," said Minister Tidjani Idrissa Abdoulkadri. And to clarify: "Our current budget does not allow us, Mr. President, to finance new equipment". "Our goal," he added, "is to improve human capital."

If granted, this contribution by the AfDB will, according to Mr Idrissa Abdoulkadri, strengthen the capacity of young people and teachers and contribute to the quality of education by acquiring new equipment that meets current international standards.

 "The Ministry of Professional and Technical Education must have the means and tools to follow up its actions," the Minister of Niger said. It must ensure that the training provided is in line with the needs of the labor market in Niger ".

After listening attentively to Mr. Tidjani Idrissa Abdoulkadri, the President of ADB was impressed by the quality of investments made at the Kalmaharo Technical High School.  

"Young Nigerians must be prepared to face the professional world and create SMEs to participate in the development of their country," said Akinwumi Adesina. I am firmly convinced that their future is here in Africa, not on the roads of immigration. "

"Young Nigerians have their place in an Africa that thrives and creates hope in its children. That is why I endorse an additional 4 billion CFA francs to strengthen the human and material resources of Niger's professional and technical education ", he concluded, shortly before making a guided tour of Niger. places.

With an envelope of about 20 billion CFA francs, the Support Project for the Development of Vocational and Technical Education and Training will ultimately rehabilitate and extend establishments, in particular the professional lycée Issa Béri de Niamey, Maradi Technical High School, Zinder Training and Learning Center.

Nearly 2.5 billion FCFA will be devoted to the Kalmaharo Technical High School in Niamey. Another envelope will be assigned to the Zinder University Institute of Technology; the construction of the new technology high school in Diffa and three workshops at the Maradi University Institute of Technology. 

Banken vil også yte finansiel støtte til in-service-træning eller -trening, 25% av dem er kvinder, og for erhvervelse af udstyr og undervisningsmaterial til de pågældende institutioner. 

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