The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has reiterated its commitment to ensuring human resource development as well as improvement in other key sectors of the nation’s economy that will add value to the lives of Nigerians.

JICA’s chief representative in Nigeria Mr. Seki Tetsuo expressed this in an exclusive interview with ceoafrica in Abuja.

Mr. Tetsuo stated that JICA is partnering with the federal government of Nigeria in providing a platform for human resource development which is one area JICA is taking seriously as well as supporting the government in the areas of health, education, rural water supply, agriculture and shelter amongst others.

The JICA representative who noted that the country is blessed with abundant resources called on government to pay more attention to agricultural development noting that the country stands to benefit tremendously from it instead of depending solely on oil as its main source of revenue.

In the provision of portable drinking water to the people Mr. Tetsuo disclosed that JICA is partnering with the federal ministry of water resources through the provision of equipments, training and retraining of staffs, sinking of boreholes amongst others.

He further highlighted on some of the challenges inhibiting the performance of JICA in the country to include security noting that the government should do more in addressing this issue as no investor would want to invest in an insecure environment. Mr. Tetsuo also identified other areas such as basic infrastructures, power and roads as some of the challenges being faced by JICA in Nigeria.

Mr. Tetsuo also urged the youths to be patriotic, love their country, and take education more seriously especially in the areas of science and mathematics adding that it would enable them to think, create and innovate.

He also urged government to do more in ensuring social development in the rural areas as well as improvement of water supply and waste management technology.

The JICA representative also charged the federal government to work and implement together with the agency from the preparation stage to the completion stage of any project as this will enhance synergy between it and the government.

He noted that the agency is using the Japanese tax payer’s money to fund various projects aimed at adding values to the lives of the people in over 45 countries around Africa.