by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
Plateau State Government plans to establish a Peace Garden within the premises of the Government House. This will be in memory of all those, who have tragically lost their lives, over the years due to insecurity.
Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang made the disclosure when he received the Ambassador of Czech Republic to Nigeria, Mr Zdenek Krejci, at the new Government House, Little Rayfield Jos, on Monday.
The governor explained that, “It will be a space designed for reflection, especially for those in the literary and creative arts; a quiet place where individuals can contemplate and express their thoughts. We hope it will offer solace and inspiration, not just for writers but for our broader society.
“We look forward to exploring collaboration with the Czech Republic in all the key areas you have mentioned. In agriculture, we recognize that your country has achieved food security and undergone significant industrialization, perhaps even at a more affordable pace than parts of mainland Europe. That’s a model we are eager to learn from, as we work to improve our own agricultural productivity,” Mutfwang said.
The governor noted that, “As you rightly observed, mining is one of our areas of strength; yet, it remains vastly underdeveloped. In Nigeria and, Plateau in particular, we are only just scratching the surface. Your experience and technology could help us unlock much of this latent potential, while in education, we are keen to foster meaningful linkages between our institutions and your well-established universities.
While the University of Jos is a Federal University, Plateau State also owns a university in Bokkos, one of the communities that has, unfortunately, been affected by violence. We would welcome collaborative programs that enrich our faculty and broaden academic horizons,” he urged.
Gov Mutfwang stressed that, “One area I’d like to highlight for deeper engagement is the development of science equipment for our secondary schools. We once had a production center for science teaching materials but, sadly, it has deteriorated.
“I believe this is an area where Czech expertise in technical education and equipment manufacturing could make a real difference. We would be pleased to see more Czech presence here, following this visit. Beyond today’s discussions, we can begin to explore more concrete areas of collaboration and investment,” the governor stated.
Speaking earlier, Ambassador of Czech Republic to Nigeria, Mr. Zdenek Krejci, said he was in Jos to explore opportunities for cooperation and development between Plateau State and the Czech Republic, adding that, he was pleased that their cultural institutions have chosen such a powerful work to present, and congratulated them on the excellent choice.
According to him, this is not the first time their country has collaborated in the area of culture, saying, “This tradition has been ongoing for over 15 years,” adding that, he will also be visiting the Reading Garden, a joint project between the Czech Republic and Plateau State, and appreciated the government for the commitment it has shown to their cooperation.
Ambassador Krejci explained further that, the Czech Republic is a country with a strong tradition in machinery and agriculture, saying, “Even though, only about 2–3 percent of our workforce is employed in agriculture, we are able to feed our entire population and still produce for export; thanks to our high level of productivity.
“We can offer agricultural machinery, including specialized equipment and tractors. Just last year, we delivered a significant number of tractors to Taraba State and, perhaps, that could be of interest to Plateau as well,” Amb. Krejci stated.