Today marked the inauguration of the Industrial and Commercial Institute Engenheiro Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, located in Namáua, Cabo Delgado province. The event was attended by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, alongside the Head of Office AICS-Maputo, Paolo Enrico Sertoli, the Secretary of State for Technical and Vocational Education, Mety Gondola, as well as key authorities from Cabo Delgado, including the Secretary of State and the Governor, community leaders, and religious figures from Namáua, among others.
The inauguration is part of the PRETEP PLUS Program, an initiative funded by AICS aimed at supporting the reform of vocational education in Mozambique. The program is backed by a €35 million credit line, implemented by the Secretariat of State for Technical and Vocational Education (SEETP).
The program’s primary goal is to train and increase the employability of approximately 27,000 young Mozambicans, as well as to rehabilitate and equip 11 Technical and Vocational Education institutions nationwide, including the Industrial and Commercial Institute Engenheiro Filipe Jacinto Nyusi. The newly opened institute has 12 classrooms, electrical workshops, dormitories and a canteen, and will host courses in electricity, administration and management, IT and construction.
In his inaugural speech, the Head of Office AICS Maputo , Paolo Enrico Sertoli, expressed the pride of “the Italian cooperation in contributing technically and financially to the transformation of Namáua Secondary School into a mid-level technical institute, including the implementation of a qualification in Interior Design”. He also highlighted that through the PRETEP PLUS Program, it was possible to provide advanced training to the institute’s trainers in Brazil and to acquire equipment and furniture for the institute. Sertoli noted that the initiative aligns with the recently launched Mattei Plan, where education is one of its essential pillars.
With AICS support, a 180-meter-deep borehole will also be drilled to ensure access to potable water for the institute, which currently relies on water deliveries by tanker trucks. This initiative will guarantee continuous access to drinking water.
The President of the Republic of Mozambique, His Excellency Engineer Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, emphasised that “Mozambique is undergoing a transition from technical-vocational education based on content to education based on skills that emphasise know-how”.
The Institute’s students thanked the government and its partners for bringing technical and vocational education to Namáua, and called for “expanding technical education to other parts of our beautiful Mozambique in order to guarantee training for more young Mozambicans”
Cabo Delgado is a strategic province for Italian Cooperation, as evidenced by various initiatives. One example is the visit organized in February this year with the Italian Ambassador and UN agencies to monitor the progress of emergency projects funded by AICS. Another highlight is the support for coffee producers from Ibo, who participated in Mozambique’s First Coffee Festival, held with AICS support.
These actions demonstrate the commitment of Italian Cooperation to the nexus between emergency, development, and peace, reaffirming the principle of “leaving no one behind,” even in the most remote areas of the country. An emblematic example is Namáua, which as of today boasts a technical institute of excellence, contributing to increased employability for young people in Cabo Delgado Province.
 |
 |