The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has arrived in Milan, Italy, for a series of official engagements, including a key meeting with Lombardy Region President, Attilio Fontana.
Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, confirmed his arrival in a statement issued from Milan on Wednesday.
According to Olayinka, the minister left Abuja on Tuesday night and landed in Milan around 4:30 am on Wednesday, where he was welcomed by Ambassador Mustapha Mohammed, Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires in Italy.
A major highlight of Wike’s visit is a scheduled meeting with Fontana on Thursday to discuss potential collaborations in agriculture, vocational education, and strategic development initiatives for the FCT.
Olayinka stated, “While in Milan, the FCT minister will hold a meeting with the President of Lombardy Region on Thursday and also meet agribusiness investors.”
Lombardy, Italy’s economic powerhouse, is home to around 10 million people and ranks as the second most populous region in the European Union. It also holds the second-highest nominal GDP in the EU.
Discussions between Wike and Fontana will focus on leveraging Lombardy’s expertise in advanced farming techniques and vocational training to boost development efforts in the FCT.
Beyond the meeting with Fontana, Wike is expected to interact with investors in agribusiness and vocational training experts to explore new opportunities for partnerships and investment in Nigeria’s capital.
Accompanying the minister on the trip are FCT Mandate Secretary for Education, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, Mandate Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, Lawan Geidam, Senior Special Assistant on Administration, Dr. Udo Samuel Atang, and Senior Special Assistant on Legal and Multilateral Cooperation, Barrister Benedict Daudu.
