A Philippine official in Nigeria has sought stronger ties between the two countries, noting the potential jobs for Filipinos there.
"Nigeria needs professional, technical, skilled, semi-skilled and even household service workers (HSWs), fields that Filipino workers are getting into," an article posted Saturday on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) website quoted Ambassador Nestor Padalhin as saying.
Padalhin, also noted the work ethic of Filipino workers is well-known in many places around the world.
He said that while there is an increasing number of Nigerians coming to the Philippines as students, there are Filipinos going to Nigeria to find employment.
The ambassador co-hosted the Third Annual Convention of the Philippine Graduates Association of Nigeria (PHILGRAN), held at the Aso Hall of the International Conference Center of Abuja (ICCA) on November 12-13.
At the Dinner and Awards Night on November 13, the Special Guest of Honor was Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed.
Other Guests of Honor included Minister of Information and Communications Professor Dora Akunyili, Minister of Aviation Fidelia Nzeze, Minister of State for Education and Manuel L. Quezon University graduate Barrister Olarogun Kenneth Gbagi and Engineer Charles Mbanefo.
The Conference featured a Philippine mini-trade exhibit, a Philippine cultural and educational display, dance performance, dinner and conferment of awards to outstanding Nigerian graduates of the Philippines.
In his keynote address, Padalhin congratulated Nigerians who graduated from Philippine colleges and universities, especially those present at the occasion.
He also expressed pride that Nigerians who graduated from Philippine colleges and universities are active in the public and private sectors in Nigeria, citing Barrister Gbagi and Anthony I.B. Akah, who is now Deputy General Manager of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), one of the most important government agency in the country.
Akah is a Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral graduate of Adamson University in Manila.
Also, he pushed for stronger Philippine-Nigerian relations, especially in the political, economic and socio-cultural fields, as well as in people-to-people contacts.
He expressed hopes PHILGRAN will be in the core group to start a Philippine-Nigeria/Nigeria-Philippines Business Council or a Philippine-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PNCCI) and [boost] Philippine-Nigeria economic relations. — LBG, GMANews.TV
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