The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, hosted the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, Maho Ou Ali Tagma, and the Deputy Head of Mission, Marouan Abousif, on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. This high-level engagement builds upon prior discussions held in Switzerland with Morocco’s head of delegation at the International Labour Organization (ILO) summit, focusing on fostering a strategic partnership between the two countries’ labour ministries.
The partnership, once formalized, aims to address critical aspects of Nigeria’s labour market, including job creation, economic growth, and human capital development. During the meeting, Minister Onyejeocha reiterated the importance of leveraging Morocco’s proven expertise in vocational training to enhance Nigeria’s labour force. The discussions centered on exporting skilled Nigerian labour, enhancing productivity, and ensuring occupational safety to drive social welfare and foreign exchange earnings.
Morocco’s innovative vocational training strategies, which have contributed significantly to its economic success, were a key point of interest. Minister Onyejeocha emphasized how Nigeria could adapt these models to meet local needs, particularly in industries where Morocco has excelled. These include agriculture, renewable energy, and technology, where Morocco’s advanced training systems could help equip Nigerian workers with globally competitive skills.
“By collaborating with Morocco, Nigeria can unlock new opportunities to empower its workforce and address unemployment,” the minister noted. The proposed vocational training programs would not only create jobs but also improve workforce productivity across various sectors, contributing to Nigeria’s long-term economic development.
The meeting underscored the mutual benefits of a stronger Nigeria-Morocco labour partnership. Both sides expressed enthusiasm for formalizing this relationship through a memorandum of understanding (MoU). The MoU will outline specific areas of cooperation, including shared strategies for implementation, to ensure tangible outcomes from the collaboration.
The Moroccan Ambassador, Maho Ou Ali Tagma, commended Minister Onyejeocha’s commitment to enhancing Nigeria’s labour ecosystem. He affirmed Morocco’s willingness to share its expertise and resources, noting that the partnership could serve as a model for African countries aiming to harness the full potential of their workforce.
The proposed collaboration has the potential to significantly boost Nigeria’s labour sector by improving workforce skills, fostering entrepreneurship, and creating avenues for foreign exchange earnings through skilled labour exports. Minister Onyejeocha stressed that such a partnership aligns with the Nigerian government’s broader economic agenda of driving inclusive growth and reducing unemployment.
“This is a step toward building a resilient labour market capable of supporting Nigeria’s economic ambitions. With Morocco’s support, we aim to create sustainable solutions that benefit our people and our economy,” the minister stated.
The meeting ended on a high note, with both parties agreeing to prioritize the finalization of the MoU in the coming months. Minister Onyejeocha expressed confidence that the partnership would yield significant benefits for Nigeria’s workforce and serve as a catalyst for broader economic and social transformation.
As Nigeria continues to explore global partnerships to revitalize its labour market, Minister Nkeiruka Onyejeocha’s proactive engagement with Morocco highlights her dedication to creating impactful policies and fostering international cooperation to improve the lives of Nigerians.
