The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has arrived in Milan, Italy, ahead of a series of official engagements, including a high-profile meeting with the President of the Lombardy Region, Attilio Fontana.

This was contained in a statement issued by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media on Wednesday.

According to the statement, Wike, who departed Abuja on Tuesday night, arrived in Milan at about 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday and was received by Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires in Italy, Ambassador Mustapha Mohammed.

Wike’s visit to Milan will focus on fostering collaborations in agriculture and vocational education.

“While in Milan, the FCT Minister will hold a meeting with the President of Lombardy Region on Thursday and also meet agribusiness investors,” Olayinka said in the statement

“The FCT Minister’s meeting with Attilio Fontana will center on seeking collaboration and evaluating possible prospects in the areas of agriculture and vocational education, as well as strategic development partnerships with the Lombardy Region,” Olayinka added.

Following this meeting, Wike will engage with investors in agribusiness and experts in vocational training in a bid to unlock new opportunities for the FCT.

Accompanying the Minister on the trip are the FCT Mandate Secretary for Education, Dr. Danlami Hayyo; the Mandate Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, Lawan Geidam; the Senior Special Assistant on Administration, Dr. Udo Samuel Atang; and the Senior Special Assistant on Legal and Multilateral Cooperation, Barrister Benedict Daudu.

Lombardy, known as Italy’s most economically significant region, has a population of about 10 million and ranks as the second most populous region in the European Union (EU).

It is also the second-largest regional economy in the EU by nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP).