The Minister / Deputy Chairman of National Planning Commission, Dr. Abubakar Olanrewaju, has signed two grant aid agreements with the Japanese government with Nigeria benefitting a total of ¥400 million (amount N597 million).
Speaking during the signing ceremony at the minister’s conference room in Abuja, yesterday, the minister said that the aid grants were meant for the provision of Japanese Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) products and the construction of 261 classroom blocks for 36 schools in Oyo State.
“The federal government appreciates your intervention which is timely, coming at a time that the implementation of the MDGs is coming to an end and the ‘what is next’ question is on the table,” the minister said,
He appealed to the direct beneficiaries of the grants to use the opportunity provided by the projects to enhance their capacity in the respective areas.
The Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Mr. Ryuichi Shoji, signed the agreement on behalf of the Japanese government while the Senior Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed the Exchange of Notes (E/N).
Mr. Shoji said: “These aids reaffirm Japan’s commitment to the future of Nigeria and the Nigerian people.”
