News Release

FREDERICTON (CNB) - A recently signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Government of New Brunswick and the Government of Niger will see the two countries co-operating and sharing best practices on vocational and technical training.

The signing ceremony was attended by Maïzama Hadiza Issiakou, minister of vocational and technical training for the Republic of Niger; Nana Aïcha Foumakoye, ambassador for the Republic of Niger in Canada; and Hédard Albert, minister of wellness, culture and sport, who is also minister responsible for the Francophonie. Albert attended the signing on behalf of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Ed Doherty.

"Our governments have agreed to work co-operatively in the fields of vocational and technical training, as well as lifelong learning and apprenticeship using the best practices of Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB)," Albert said. "CCNB has established a reputation for excellence as a result of its involvement through the years in international development projects. I am confident this will be an enriching experience for both parties."

"I would like to assure you that an active partnership between our two departments is a guarantee of a high level of visibility for New Brunswick, not only in this distant corner of the globe, that is to say, Niger, but also elsewhere in Africa," said Maizama. "Let us therefore work together toward the effective and diligent application of this co-operation agreement for the greater good of our respective peoples."

Under the terms of the MOU, CCNB will share best practices with Niger's department of vocational and technical training in an effort to modernize and improve the quality of training programs offered in Niger, and to assist the country in its labour market needs. The areas of co-operation include training and professional development; technical assistance for the development of new training programs; the integration of new information and communications technologies in the vocational training system; and development of distance learning.

CCNB, through its development and innovation branch, conducted its first exploratory visit to the Republic of Niger in 2006. It began its co-operative relationship the following year when a delegation from the college's Centre of Excellence in Agricultural and Biotechnological Sciences visited the country to develop a project with a local non-governmental organization to improve peanut oil production in the communes of Gouré and Guidiguire.

"Through its diverse menu of programs, CCNB has provided so many New Brunswickers with the training they need to be engaged in the workforce and be successful in this place," Albert said. "New Brunswickers should be proud to see our community college reaching out to countries such as the Republic of Niger so that their people can be skilled, be engaged and be successful as well."

Maïzama's recent visit to New Brunswick included stops at all five CCNB campuses in Bathurst, Campbellton, Edmundston, Dieppe and Péninsule acadienne.