The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) is seeking strategic investments and partnerships in Nigeria, emphasizing knowledge transfer, infrastructure development, and environmental sustainability.
During a high-level meeting in Abuja with Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Dr. Toks Omishakin, Secretary of CalSTA, highlighted California’s commitment to fostering ties with Africa, particularly Nigeria.
Hon. Dabiri-Erewa stressed the importance of capacity building as a tool for economic growth and brain circulation, urging the collaboration to focus on training programmes aimed at equipping Nigerians with technical expertise in the transportation sector.
“These initiatives align with President Tinubu’s vision of transforming Nigeria into a trillion-dollar economy,” she noted. She also advocated for partnerships with agencies like SMEDAN to enhance the impact of research, training, and capacity-building efforts.
Dr. Omishakin expressed concerns about the environmental impact of transportation, especially its contribution to air pollution, and emphasized the importance of green jobs and clean energy in future investments.
“Transport activities are a major contributor to environmental challenges. Our goal is to collaborate with Nigeria to address these issues while driving economic and infrastructure development,” he said.
Dr. Aditya Ramji, Director of the Global South Clean Transportation Center and part of the CalSTA delegation, added that advanced training programs would focus on equipping Master’s and PhD students with the skills needed to address challenges in Nigeria’s transportation sector.
The delegation expressed interest in collaborating with Nigerian institutions like the University of Lagos and exploring investment opportunities in sectors such as technology, energy, and sustainable transportation.
Hon. Dabiri-Erewa commended Dr. Omishakin for leveraging his position for the benefit of Nigeria and assured him of NiDCOM’s support for future partnerships.
