![]() |
Leilani Bin-Juda, the High Commissioner of Australia to Nigeria |
She said that her country is particularly, interested in
scaling up the level of economic co-operation between the two countries, as
well as, interested in ensuring that more prospective Nigerian students
leverage on the excellent education infrastructures in Australia.
Leilani, who stated this, during a reception tagged, ‘Study
Australia Networking’ organized by the High Commission in Abuja, last week,
noted that her country is the best place in the World for Nigerians to study.
The High Commissioner expressed delight that her country has
continued to maintain excellent relationship with the Government and people of
Nigeria, promising to work towards ensuring that new window of partnership is
open between the two countries.
She said, “Australia delivers a well-targeted development
programme in Africa to help build food security and resilience, strengthen
government capacity in key sectors, empower vulnerable communities, and share
knowledge on climate adaptation and renewable energy.
“Our development cooperation programmes utilise Australian
skills and technical expertise in education, agriculture, health, mining, and
science and technology wherever possible. We ensure a strong focus on gender
equality and disability inclusion across all of our activities and
partnerships.
“Australia Awards Masters Scholarships and courses on
climate adaptation and mitigation, and renewable energy, and Humanitarian
funding to address food security, including in the Horn of Africa
“Deployments of Australian expertise through Australia
Assists and the United Nations Junior Professional Officer Program, and Funding
to ACIAR to expand agricultural and climate change related projects in Africa,
and Digital Earth Africa, a tool mapping impacts of climate change across the
continent.
“Australia’s engagement with Africa, particularly with
Nigeria, reflects the diverse challenges and opportunities across the African
continent. We are providing immediate, lifesaving humanitarian support for
those impacted by devastating drought and conflict in the Horn of Africa and
elsewhere, through our UN and Australian NGO partnerships.
“Through high quality education and training programs, and
deployments of technical experts, we are helping African nations to build
capabilities, including in climate change adaptation, climate-resilient
agriculture and water security.
“We are also reaching communities in Africa, Nigeria, in
particular, with assistance that helps them recover from the social and
economic impacts of COVID-19, and creates safe and supportive environments for
women and youth”.