KOICA invests $82.74bn in Nigeria’s development

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) says it has invested $82.74 million (about N109.61 billion) in various development programmes in Nigeria since it began operations in the country.

KOICA Country Director in Nigeria, Eunsub Kim, disclosed this during a media briefing in Abuja, saying the programmes had created jobs in agriculture and strengthened entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths.

Kim said KOICA was working with government agencies and other partners to address development needs and create sustainable impact.

He said the impact of the partnership could be seen in the skills acquired, opportunities created, institutions strengthened and solutions developed through the various programmes.

According to him, KOICA has worked with the Nigerian Government and other stakeholders for many years in areas such as education, agriculture, governance, digital transformation, entrepreneurship and skills development.

“Some examples of this cooperation include the Green Jobs for Youth in Resilient Agrifood Systems Programme, which supports young people with skills and opportunities for green employment and entrepreneurship.

“The Start-up Digital Innovation Academy Project strengthens Nigeria’s start-up and MSME ecosystem, while the Education Commission supports teacher development, digital learning and technology-enabled education,” he said.

Kim said other initiatives included the Smart School Project Phase II, implemented with the Universal Basic Education Commission across 21 states.

He also mentioned the Digital Governance Project, which is aimed at improving digital governance in Nigeria by strengthening institutional systems and capacities.

He added that through the CIAT Fellowship Programme, KOICA had supported about 2,000 Nigerian government officials to improve their knowledge and skills while learning from Korea’s development experience.

“These programmes represent only part of our cooperation. More importantly, we recognise that the success of development cooperation should be measured not only by activities completed, but by the impact and sustainability of the results,” he said.

Kim also highlighted the Nigerian-Korean Model School, implemented by the FCT Education Secretariat as a smart school to provide education and technology-driven learning opportunities to communities along the Airport Road axis.

Also speaking, Head of Inclusive Growth at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Claire Henshaw, highlighted projects through which UNDP is supporting KOICA, including the construction of the Abuja Centre for Entrepreneurship.

Henshaw said the centre would provide a platform for the entrepreneurship ecosystem to promote digital innovation, skills acquisition and digital transformation.

She said the initiative was targeted at young businesses, young people and the wider entrepreneurship ecosystem in Abuja and its environs.

“It is laudable because, as much as we have our universities of learning, given the advent of AI and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, I think it is important for Nigeria and Africa to catch up,” she said.

Henshaw added that KOICA was providing support to strengthen ongoing efforts by the Nigerian Government, particularly in building the capacity of young people to drive investment, innovation and trade.