Enugu, EU, Belgium, Portugal Deepen Ties on Education, Energy, Health, Film Industry
The Enugu State Government has expressed readiness to expand its collaboration with the European Union (EU), the Kingdom of Belgium, the Portuguese Government and the Eastern Nigerian Film Festival across strategic sectors aimed at accelerating the state’s development.
Governor Peter Mbah gave the assurance on Friday, while receiving in audience the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Gautier Mignot; the Belgian Ambassador, Mr Peter Leenknegt; the Portuguese Ambassador, Mr Paulo Martins dos Santos; as well as representatives of the Eastern Nigerian Film Festival, who paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Enugu.
Mbah described the EU as a “global force for development,” noting that the value of its interventions—especially in Africa—has been widely acknowledged. He said Enugu State shares a natural alignment with the EU’s development agenda, particularly in the areas of education, health, energy, agriculture, and creative enterprise.
Massive Investment in Education
Highlighting his administration’s priorities, Governor Mbah said Enugu is investing more than 33 per cent of its total budget in education, and over 50 per cent of the last two budget cycles in social services in general.
According to him, the state’s long-term prosperity rests on the strength of its human capital rather than natural resources.
He disclosed that the administration has built more than 7,000 classrooms in two years under its Smart Green School programme, with 267 of the schools already completed.
Each Smart Green School, he said, is equipped with facilities for artificial intelligence, robotics, mechatronics and ICT—ensuring that Enugu children acquire the skills needed to compete in a rapidly changing global economy.
He added that beginning January, the state will commence daily free nutritious meals for more than 300,000 pupils, supported by a Smart Farm initiative expected to produce up to 60% of the required food by next year.
Health, Security, and Economic Growth
Mbah further revealed that the government has constructed 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres across all political wards, launched the Enugu Airlines initiative, and is working to attract three million visitors to the state next year as part of a broader tourism and economic expansion plan.
He promised to engage the management of Emenite Nigeria to resolve its operational challenges.
EU, Team Europe Outline Ongoing Projects
Earlier, EU Ambassador Gautier Mignot said their visit was to strengthen existing cooperation and explore new avenues of partnership. He noted that the EU remains Nigeria’s leading partner in trade, investment and development.
He highlighted several EU-funded programmes already underway in Enugu, including:
Solar for Health, implemented by NTU International, which will install 20 solar microgrids to power primary healthcare centres and 124 SMEs.
A small hydropower project for the agro-industrial sector, implemented by UNIDO, with feasibility studies underway.
The Nigeria Energy Support Programme (NESP) by GIZ, which covers regulatory support, electrification investment, training and the construction of four interconnected mini-grids with over 1MW combined capacity.
On education, Mignot disclosed that Enugu is one of the states selected for the Education and Youth Empowerment project implemented by UNESCO. More than 2,000 teachers across 260 wards will receive training in digital literacy, pedagogy and technology under the programme, which runs until June 2028.
He also praised the Eastern Nigerian Film Festival, noting that the EU had supported the festival for the second consecutive year due to its impact on young filmmakers in the region.
Portugal, Belgium Seek Deeper Economic Partnerships
Portuguese Ambassador Santos said his country is looking to collaborate with Enugu in railway and road construction as well as energy infrastructure.
Belgian Ambassador Leenknegt also expressed his country’s interest in supporting energy-sector initiatives in the state.
Film Festival Appeals for State Support
Founder of the Eastern Nigerian Film Festival, Ujuako Okubo, appealed to the governor to formally adopt the festival as a state-backed project, stressing its role in grooming emerging filmmakers.
Governor Mbah assured that his administration would support the initiative and would set up a committee to work directly with the festival’s organisers.
EDITOR
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, as well as M.Sc Mass Communication with Second Class(Upper Division) at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is the immediate past NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
