Buhari, Weah meet in Aso Rock •Seeks 6,000 teachers from Nigeria

Liberian President George Weah, on Monday, met with Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, where he requested from him, 6,000 teachers as part of an effort to build capacity in his country.

Speaking to President Buhari during a visit to the presidential villa, Abuja, he praised the effort of Nigeria in assisting his country particularly through the Technical Aid Corps (TAC).

He said the teachers were needed under the Bilateral Teacher Exchange.

He also sought for agriculture extension workers to help resuscitate the sector in his country.

According to him, “Your sustained technical assistance for capacity building in these sectors is most welcome. For example, Nigerian teachers and medical volunteers to Liberia, under the Technical Assistance Corps TAC) Agreement with Liberia, have been very crucial in boosting capacity development in Liberia, and it is my hope that this assistance can be considerably increased to address with urgency our most pressing socio-economic needs at this time.

“More specifically, under the Bilateral Teacher Exchange programme, we are seeking 6,000 plus teachers to make up for the shortage of good teachers in our educational system.

“In agriculture, we are seeking experts and extension workers to build capacity in the sector, particularly with crops, (such as cassava, for example) which lend themselves readily to value-added propositions and export earning potential.”

The former football star informed President Buhari that the prices of his country’s two basic export commodities, rubber and iron ore, had continued to fall on the world market, saying that its foreign exchange earnings from the export of these and other commodities are used mainly on the importation of food and other commodities, causing massive trade deficits; youth unemployment is at an all-time high, and prices of basic commodities continue to increase.

He added: “Our people have voted for change, and for hope. And change is finally here. But mere political change is meaningless without development, prosperity, and growth.

“Your Excellency, we need Nigeria’s help to jump-start our economy. You played a major role in bringing peace to Liberia, you reformed our Army and today it is performing it duties to the highest professional standards.

“As we speak, they are serving in a peace-keeping mission in Mali. You have also built and expanded the capacities of Liberians in so many ways.”

Weah said he would like to see an expansion in the various assistance programme Nigeria avails Liberia to enable him to implement his pro-poor development agenda which he said was intended to tackle the many economic and social problems that his government inherited, especially in addressing the large fiscal and infrastructure deficits, the urgent problem of youth unemployment, and reviving the education, agriculture, mining and health sectors.

He declared that Liberia was now open for business and encouraged Nigerian private investors to utilize the opportunity to invest in the country.

Weah regretted that the volume of trade between Nigeria and Liberia was low even though the Nigerian private sector dominates the banking sector.

He stated: “Yet, the Liberian banking sector is dominated by Nigerian banks, and I am made to understand that their Head offices in Nigeria may be considering reducing their support or even shutting them down because of the recent downturn in our economy.

“If this is true, l urge them not to do so, as l am optimistic that trade and commerce will increase in the near future.

“There are also major shortcomings in the electricity and power sectors, in road construction, in housing, in mining, and in fisheries, to name a few, that could be of serious interest to Nigerian investors, either as individuals or companies or through joint-ventures or public-private partnerships.

“We invite all of you to come to Liberia and explore the many new opportunities for investment that are bound to increase under this new political dispensation.

“I promise you that you will find a Government that is not only business friendly but ready to do business.”

While noting that Nigeria’s historical benevolence to his country cannot be quantified, the Liberian President requested for more “urgent and critical assistance.”

“On a personal note, President Buhari it is my intention, with all due respect and affection, to frequently seek your wise counsel and advice as embark upon this arduous task of nation-building, reconstruction, and transformation of my country,” he said.