Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu has affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with South Africa, particularly in infrastructure development and capacity building in the mining sector.
She made this statement on Monday at the opening of the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) ministerial meeting in Cape Town, according to Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Newsverge reports that Odumegwu-Ojukwu announced Nigeria’s intention to present a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for collaboration with South Africa on the certification of Nigerian mining geologists and other professionals in the field. She stated, “Nigeria is prepared to explore new avenues of cooperation with South Africa in various fields. Beyond co-financing infrastructure projects that benefit both economies, we seek collaboration in certifying Nigerian mining professionals to enhance their global competitiveness.”
The meeting, co-chaired by Odumegwu-Ojukwu and South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Roland Lamola, served as a precursor to the presidential BNC session, where President Bola Tinubu and President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead discussions. Delegates reviewed reports from working groups on key areas, including trade and investment, political consultations, migration, defence and security, and collaboration in energy, manufacturing, and banking.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasised the strategic importance of Nigeria-South Africa relations and their shared role as leading African economies. She urged delegates to approach the session with dedication, stating, “The BNC holds great promise for the future of our bilateral relations. Together, we shall achieve success for our countries and Africa.”
Dr Roland Lamola highlighted the strong diplomatic ties between Nigeria and South Africa, rooted in Nigeria’s unwavering support during South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle. He called for expanded trade relations under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and stressed the nations’ shared responsibility to promote peace and advocate for reforms in international institutions like the United Nations.
