The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has commenced discussions with the Embassy of Brazil in Abuja on possible areas of technical cooperation, knowledge exchange and development partnership in digital transformation and green development.
The engagement, undertaken on behalf of the Executive Chairman of AMAC, Hon. Christopher Maikalangu, is part of the Council’s efforts to advance its Digital 10K and Green AMAC initiatives.
The two programmes are aimed at promoting digital skills, youth empowerment, climate resilience, energy security, environmental sustainability and improved governance at the grassroots.
Leading the AMAC delegation, the Vice Chairman, Hon. Yusuf Muhammed Nadabo, highlighted the historical and people-to-people ties between Nigeria and Brazil.
He said both countries shared similarities, including youthful populations and a growing interest in using innovation and technology to promote inclusive development.
Nadabo said AMAC was interested in learning from Brazil’s experience and exploring cooperation in areas such as the bioeconomy, renewable and clean energy, climate-smart development, digital innovation, waste management, youth skills development and sustainable urban solutions.
He stressed the need for international partnerships to produce practical benefits for local communities, particularly through youth employment, institutional capacity development and innovative solutions to developmental challenges.
According to him, Brazil’s experience in the bioeconomy and energy transition could provide useful lessons for AMAC’s efforts to promote environmental sustainability, digital inclusion and economic development.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of the Brazilian Ambassador, the Minister-Counsellor of the Embassy, Mr Leandro A. da Silva, acknowledged the strong historical and contemporary relations between Brazil and Nigeria.
Da Silva welcomed AMAC’s initiative and said the embassy would study the proposals presented by the Council and respond through the appropriate diplomatic channels.
Earlier, AMAC’s Consultant on Development Partners and ICT, Hon. Ambassador Mina Horsfall, said the Council’s international engagements were driven by the need to find innovative solutions to challenges facing modern municipalities.
She identified climate change, youth unemployment, waste management, energy security, digital exclusion and the need for more efficient and transparent governance as some of the challenges requiring coordinated action.
Horsfall explained that the Digital 10K Agenda was designed to equip thousands of young people with relevant digital and technology-related skills, while the Green AMAC Agenda focused on environmental sustainability, climate resilience, clean energy and improved waste management.
She said partnerships with international institutions, diplomatic missions, development agencies and the private sector could provide opportunities for technical assistance, capacity building, technology transfer, investment mobilisation and institutional development.
The engagement is part of the Maikalangu administration’s efforts to establish partnerships with international organisations and development partners and translate global expertise into development opportunities for residents of AMAC.
Members of the delegation included the Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman, Hon. Emeka Orji; representatives of the Council’s ICT team; and Mr Salim Shittu of the Protocol Unit, among other officials.
