The Salute Nigeria Initiative and the Pat Fernandez Foundation have entered a new partnership aimed at empowering Nigerian youths through international job opportunities, technical training, and global educational support. CTV was there where both organisations signed a major Memorandum of Understanding.
It was a significant moment in Abuja as the Salute Nigeria Initiative and the Pat Fernandez Foundation formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding, announcing a new collaborative effort to promote youth empowerment, education, and job creation in Nigeria. Tagged: “The Nigeria Industrial Revolution Project”.(NIRP).
Speaking to CTV, the Director-General of the Salute Nigeria Initiative, Ambassador Chielo Ojirika, explained the purpose of the invitation.
“We are signing this MOU to let the world know that we are now collaborating to contribute to the development of Nigeria, and by extension, the world,” he said.
Ambassador Ojirika highlighted that the partnership focuses primarily on youth empowerment and international job creation, leveraging global connections to open new doors for Nigerian youths in Europe—particularly in Denmark, Poland, Germany, and other countries.Amb. Ojirika who is also the Nigerian Cultural Ambassador to Germany and the Coordinator of the forthcoming Nigerian German Investment and Cultural Expo, NGiCE, scheduled for Berlin, Germany, with the theme: “Unlocking Nigeria’s Investment Potentials for Industrial Revolution and Cultural Expo: Key Opportunities for Foreign Direct Investment”. chaired by Sir Mike Okiro, CFR IGP Rtd, with the overall aimes of boosting Nigerian image globally and fostering existing economic relationship with Germany and the entire world, a collaborative effort of the Office of the Secretary to the Goverment of the Federation (OSGF), Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, and other MDA’s.
And now, signing this partnership with the Pat Fernandes Foundation, is a major plus towards the realization of the planned ” Nigeria Industrial Revolution Project” (NIRP) an initiative of Salute Nigeria Initiative ,which has NGiCE as the first phase.
Also speaking was Mr. Patrick Fernandez, Chairman of the Pat Fernandez Foundation and the newly appointed Chairman of the Communication Commission of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja. He traced the foundation’s efforts back to 2017, when the organization sponsored young Nigerians to pursue undergraduate studies in India—many of whom have successfully graduated and are now contributing to society.
Mr. Fernandez explained that the post-COVID programme now offers two major opportunities:
- International employment placements through partner offices in Poland and Germany.
- Technical training for youths with specialized skills—whether graduates or not.
He emphasized that the global job market is shifting towards technical competence, with high demand for skills in fields such as electrical electronics, carpentry, welding, and mechanical fitting.
Mr. Fernandez noted that while local training often leaves young Nigerians without job opportunities, the partnership offers a clear pathway: students will “learn and earn” through a two-year diploma abroad, after which they are absorbed into industries across Europe with job contracts lasting up to three years.
He stated that graduates can expect to earn a minimum of €1,400 per month, excluding bonuses—amounting to as much as ₦2.5 to ₦2.6 million monthly. Over two years, returning youths could accumulate up to ₦30 million, enough to start businesses and contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth.
According to him, this initiative aligns with the Nigerian government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to support government efforts by equipping young Nigerians with global skills, work exposure, and financial independence.
He added that Europe’s ageing population has created a massive demand for technical workers, with major companies—such as Mercedes-Benz and Ford—actively seeking skilled mechanics, engineers, and technicians. African and Asian countries are now being positioned to fill this gap.
With this new partnership, both organizations say they hope to create pathways for thousands of young Nigerians to build careers, gain international exposure, and eventually return home to invest their earnings and skills in the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Project (NIRP).
In Abuja, Abobi Peter CTV News.
Leave a Reply