Under the partnership, the Turkish investors would
collaborate with Nigerian businesses in the health, energy, infrastructure,
education sectors, among others.
Partners in the deal signed various Memoranda of
Understanding at the headquarters of the ACCI in Abuja on Friday to kick-start
the partnership that would help reduce the level of unemployment in Nigeria.
Speaking on the sidelines of the MoU signing ceremony, the
Vice President, Commerce, ACCI, Sijuade Kayode, said, “The investments we are
looking at, as a result of this partnership, are in the health, education,
infrastructure and other sectors.
“These investments are key to creating jobs and to boost the
economy. So we are looking at about a million jobs from the investments that
will come through this partnership.
“In the infrastructure sector alone, about 500,000 jobs can
be created in a year. In the education sector we can create a million jobs from
it. All we need the government to do is to provide the enabling environment
through policies and laws to support the private sector to thrive.”
Kayode pointed out that “the government cannot create all
the jobs, it can only create about 10 per cent. It is the private sector that
creates the bulk of the jobs. So with this, the jobs that the government and
our people want will be created.”
The ACCI vice president said the chamber had signed MoUs
with the Turkish investors, adding that “It shall be taken to the next level by
visiting Turkey next month to discuss this partnership further. This
partnership is driven by the private sector, which is the builder of the
economy.
Also speaking on the partnership, the Director-General,
ACCI, Victoria Akai, further stated that the deal with Turquaz Health would see
to the reduction in capital flight from Nigeria in the health sector.
“Nigeria spends several billions of dollars on medical
tourism and this is another form of capital flight. With this partnership we
will reduce this and ensure that our funds are spent and used here in Nigeria.
So this is one of the reasons for this partnership,” she stated.
The Vice Chief Executive Officer, Turquaz Health, Naci
Hotomaroglu, said investors from Turkey in the group and from the chamber of
commerce in Ankara, Turkey, were delighted to partner the ACCI in various
sectors.
“Whether you are a medical facility, travel agency,
insurance provider, or governmental institutions seeking healthcare solutions,
we offer collaborative opportunities that benefit everyone.