SEOUL: The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) yesterday handed over the $3.5 million Nigeria-Korea Friendship Institute of Vocational and Advanced Technology to the Kogi State governor, Idris Wada.
The institute is expected to be the centre of excellence for students in the areas of automobile, welding and fraction, electrical engineering as well as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Nigeria and subsequently West Africa.
Republic of Korea ambassador to Nigeria, Noh Kyu-Duk said the Korean government, through KOICA has in the last two decades cumulatively spent over $29 million equivalent grants and technical cooperation programmes in Nigeria.
Wada said as a joint venture, the state spent over N410 million as counter-financing of the project on areas of customs clearance of equipment, clearing and perimeter fencing and feasibility study.
The governor said the philosophy behind the establishment of the vocational institute was to make youths in the state self-reliant and less dependent on white collar jobs.
