Canada Seeks Closer Ties With Rivers State

The Canadian Government, says it is willing to partner with the Rivers State Government in the development of the education sector as a way of  promoting its bilateral ties with the state.

The Canadian Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Jean J. Gauthier who said this during a courtesy call on the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence Nemi in her office in Port Harcourt, said that the proposed partnership was inspired by the excellent performances of Rivers students in Canada.

Mr Gauthier said that Rivers students in Canada were doing well in their various fields, adding that the good performance of  Rivers State students in various higher institutions in Canada had made the  country to seek for partnership with the state in the education sector.

In her response, the Rivers State  Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Nemi reaffirmed government’s commitment towards taking education to greater heights.

Dame Alice said that this commitment was being demonstrated by the government through the construction of model primary and secondary schools across the  state, as well as the relocation of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) to a new site with a capacity of 40,000 students.

The commissioner also told the visiting Canadian envoy that the government was sponsoring many Rivers students in overseas scholarships in various fields like Medicine, Engineering, Information Technology, Law amongst others in higher institutions in Canada, Malaysia, United States and Singapore.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Richard Ofuru said  that the state would continue to set the standard in education in the country.

He also said that the government was willing to partner with corporate bodies in the development of education.