Bissau, Oct. 16, 2024 (Lusa) - Guinea-Bissau currently only needs professionals in the fields of agronomy, veterinary science and electrical engineering and is counting on the support of international partners to train them, the country's President Umaro Sissoco Embalo said on Wednesday.
The Guinea-Bissau head of state made this observation in his speech at the World Food Day ceremonies, held today at the Pessube farm in Bissau, in front of several members of the government and various United Nations agencies and the representative of the European Union.
Umaro Sissoco Embalo said that since he has been president he has never asked for scholarships for young Guinea-Bissauans other than to train in those three areas.
"It's a shame to see today that our young people who go to university only think about studying Law, Political Science or International Relations. I only ask for scholarships in all our friendly countries for Agronomy, Veterinary Science and Electro-technology. That's our future," said Mr Embalo.
The Guinea-Bissau head of state therefore turned to the representatives of the European Union and various United Nations agencies present at the ceremony to tell them that Guinea-Bissau "only needs staff in agronomy, veterinary science and electrotechnics" in order to develop.
"Today we don't have any agronomists who are 30 years old," said Mr Embalo, referring to the advanced age of the country's staff in this sector.
The Guinea-Bissau president noted that training a veterinary doctor "is helping the development of other sectors", namely public health, giving the example of the care that this professional will take with meat for the public's consumption.
Umaro Sissoco Embalo pointed out that the President of Paraguay, where he was recently on a working visit, had offered "between 10 and 20 scholarships" for young Guinea-Bissauans in the areas of agronomy and veterinary science.
"This is what I also expect from the European Union," emphasised Embalo.
The Guinea-Bissau head of state argued that those who want to study law or political science should do so at the country's universities.
With regard to the date, Umaro Sissoco Embaló argued that World Food Day calls on humanity to "fight hunger and eradicate poverty", as one of the "noblest tasks demanded by human conscience".
The president noted that the "persistence of hunger and peace" are not friends of peace and political stability in any country.
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