Press Releases

Lagos Ready To Partner With Israel In Agric, Medicare, Security - Fashola

Mar 17, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Tuesday expressed willingness to partner with the State of Israel in the development of Agriculture, saying Lagos State was ready at all times to embrace viable offers of partnership.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja while receiving the Ambassador of the State of Israel to Nigeria, Mr. Moshe Ram who led an Economic team from Israel, also said the State was ready for partnership in Education, Medicare and Security.

The Governor, who said he has, as a student of history, always found the history of the State of Israel very interesting declared, “It is a history of a country which has turned its adversity into prosperity”, adding that the country has continued to look face up not bottom down.

Making particular reference to Kibbutzim, a cooperative settlement in Israel devoted to farming, Governor Fashola praised the ingenuity of the initiative which, according to him has been responsible for the development of so many things in Israel, especially fish farming.

Like the State of Israel, according to the Governor, Lagos State has also endeavoured to turn its adversities into its strength, particularly in the areas of development of community life.

He said the meeting with the Economic team led by the Ambassador, would offer both parties the opportunity to explore areas of beneficial partnership, pointing out that just like the State of Israel, Lagos State has made progress in some areas.

He told the Ambassador, “you may have made progress in some areas, and we also have made progress in other areas. The principle of partnership is that each party brings something to the table.

Earlier in his remarks, the Ambassador, Mr. Moshe Ram told Governor Fashola that the purpose of the visit was to introduce a team of Israeli businessmen to the State Government for the purpose of exploring areas of partnership, especially in Agriculture, Education, Medicare and Security.

The Ambassador who led an eight-member delegation said the visit was also aimed at strengthening the existing relationship between Nigeria and the State of Israel, a relationship which, he said is as old as Independent Nigeria.

He assured that members of the Economic team, some of whom he said flew into the country from Israel while some are established in Nigeria would spare no efforts to make the visit and the relationship with Lagos State and Nigeria both useful and fruitful.

Also in the Economic team which later went into close session with the Governor, included Mr. Reuven Cohen of Afri Fruits, an Agricultural Company into Orchards, citrus production, Mr. Gaby Eitan of Dizengof, and Eyal Mesiko of Emi Security, among others while on the Lagos State Government side were the Commissioners for Establishment and Training, and Agriculture and Cooperative, among other top government officials.