“Our greatest strength is our people. Our
strength lies in the capacity of Nigerian youths,” Tinubu said.
“They have energy, talent, and
self-belief. They are quality partners for the Qatari industry. They are
educated and reliable, and they are proactively seeking to add value wherever
they are.
“A few cannot give a bad name to the many.
Nigerian youths are ready to be unleashed for the mutual benefit of both
nations.
“We have seen clearly the rapid
pace and thorough quality of Qatar’s development process. It is impossible not
to be moved by what you have accomplished. The leadership in the country has
proven its mettle, and we are here to gain deeper insight.
“There is nowhere in the world
where you will find return on investment at the level of what you will see in
Nigeria. A massive market of over 200 million skilled Nigerians, always
industrious and ready to work.
“We face some short-term
turbulence at the moment, but we have a government today that reflects the
dynamism and talent of the Nigerian people.
“We are implementing the right solutions. This
team works collaboratively with each other and our partners. Nigeria is ready
for serious business.”
On his part, Al Thani, emphasised
that Qatar is open to Tinubu’s investment push.
He also recalled that he
travelled to Nigeria in 2019 due to his belief that Nigeria is an important and
strategic ally on its own and within the context of its role in regional
affairs.
“I have no doubt about the great capacity of
the Nigerian people. Everywhere in the world, they are known for their
brilliance and hard work,” he said.
“We only need to ensure that this
is happening inside of Nigeria rather than outside. The investments we have
made around the world have been very fruitful.
“This is because we take our time and study
opportunities before we invest in the commonwealth of our people. It is not my
money. The money we invest belongs to the future generations of Qatar.
“Mr. President, I am very
encouraged by your actions and your passion to create new opportunities. We are
very open to this, and follow-up is everything at this point.
“The will is there for both of us, but we must
follow up. I will send a team of officials to Nigeria after Ramadan, and we
will advance discussions on what some of the actionable investment
opportunities are.”
EDUN TO HEAD QATAR INVESTMENT IMPLEMENTATION
According to the statement,
Tinubu named Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the
economy, as the leader of the government team that will interface with Qatari
authorities on investment identification and implementation moving forward.
Ngelale said the agreements
signed are; cooperation agreement in the field of education; regulation of
employment of workers with the government of Qatar; establishment of a joint
business council (JBC) between the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and
Agriculture (NACCIMA); a cooperation agreement in the field of youths and
sports.
Other agreements include:
cooperation in the field of tourism and business events, and a memorandum of
understanding combating illicit trade in narcotic drugs and psychotropic
substances.
