Sen George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has called for a robust engagement with the Commonwealth countries since Nigeria was part of the bloc.
Akume made the call on Tuesday night at the 2025 Nigerian edition of the Commonwealth High Commissioners’ Banquet and Awards in Abuja.
The event had as its theme ”Our Commonwealth, Our Shared Heritage, and Our Shared Prosperity”.
Akume represented by Mr Nadungu Gagere, Permanent Secretary, Economic and Political Affairs, Office of the Secretary to the Government of Federation said that having a robust engagement with the commonwealth would promote synergy.
According to the SGF, Nigerian government is committed to the welfare of its citizenry and quest to serve the people in providing service delivery.
“We can partner with some other countries in the areas to win them for foreign direct investment into Nigeria, and we can also partner through technological transfer among others.”
In her remarks, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) said that the collaboration with the bloc underscored the collective commitment to enhancing economic growth, facilitating trade, and promoting investment, not only in Nigeria but within the commonwealth countries.
Dabiri-Erewa represented by Mr Sule Bassi, Secretary to the Commission, noted that uniting to celebrate common values and acknowledge the critical roles that diplomacy and collaboration play was in advancing President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She said that these were in areas of economic development, poverty alleviation, job creation, and sustainable growth.
According to her, the presence of commonwealth high business leaders in this event highlights the significance of unity and cooperation as we navigate the complexities of the global economy.
“We at NiDCOM encourage Nigerians in the Diaspora to key into this initiative with a view to utilising to catalyse development on a win-win situation both at host countries and in Nigeria.”
Similarly, Mrs Olufolake Abdulrazaq, Wife of the governor of Kwara, said that it was imperative for Nigeria and the commonwealth to continue having a robust engagement in the areas of education, trade and investment especially in the states.
She added that Nigeria had both male and female entrepreneurs who were doing well, and urged them to export their products through African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement throughout Africa.
According to her, it will be nice if the MSMEs can also export their product across commonwealth countries because Nigerian products are gaining traction globally.
“It is important to work on consular matters with the commonwealth because the citizens are closer due to their shared values, aspirations and they are able to mingle with each other in areas of training.
“It will be nice to have more Nigerians participate at the highest level of diplomacy. We want more people to come into the diplomatic work and to be able to represent Nigeria at various fora. What we want is a united world.”
In the same vein, Mr Blackson Bayewumi, the Host of the event said that the commonwealth was an association of various governments and their people built around shared languages, institutions, challenges, aspirations and values.
“According to him, unlike other international associations commonwealth works on a consensus and model; membership is voluntary and predicated primarily on a country’s commitment to upholding shared values and principles in protection and promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
”There are now 56 member states with a combined population of 2.7 billion (approximately 30 per cent of the world’s population). What we want for Nigeria is a nation where qualified and competent people are rightly elected to the position of authority and equal opportunities for her people to realise their potentials.
“A nation that provide appropriate and qualitative education for her people, where there is access to timely and efficient medical services. A peaceful nation where the people are united and all forms of discrimination are totally eliminated.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2025 edition of the Commonwealth High Commissioners’ Banquet is the second to be hosted in Nigeria and Africa, and it is designed to consolidate on the success of the maiden edition hosted in December.
The event also promotes the inauguration of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign that was inaugurated last October in Samoa.
The campaign aims to prevent over one million pieces of plastics from entering commonwealth waterways by July 2026. (NAN)
