During a recent meeting at the State House, various foreign dignitaries, including the High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Pasquale Salvaggio, the High Commissioner of Sierra Leone, Dr. Julius F. Sandy, and the Ambassador of Ethiopia, praised the contributions of Nigerians in the diaspora. They highlighted the significant accomplishments of Nigerians in both the public and private sectors in their respective countries, offering an encouraging update to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The spokesperson for President Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, shared the details of the meeting in a statement released Thursday night. The ambassadors were at the Villa to present their Letters of Credence to President Tinubu, a ceremonial process that signifies the formal recognition of their diplomatic positions. The occasion provided the ambassadors with an opportunity to share insights into the impact of Nigerians abroad.
Speaking first, the High Commissioner of Canada, Pasquale Salvaggio, noted that Nigerians in Canada are thriving in various fields, including education, sports, science, health, and business. He emphasized that Nigerians in Canada demonstrate high levels of responsibility, civility, and purposefulness in their pursuits. “For us, Nigeria is a key partner. You are the largest country in Africa, with one of the largest economies. You are also Canada’s largest trading partner in Africa,” Salvaggio remarked.
The Canadian diplomat expressed his desire to continue building on the positive relationship between the two nations, acknowledging the dynamic and strong Nigerian diaspora in Canada. “We have Nigerians in government, business, science, and sports. We want to build the ties further,” he added, reaffirming Canada’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Nigeria.
President Tinubu responded by expressing his admiration for the achievements of Nigerians abroad, calling their successes an inspiration to many. “It is good to hear about how Nigerians are doing well in the diaspora again,” he said, recognizing the invaluable contributions of Nigerian citizens to their host countries.
In a separate meeting with the High Commissioner of Sierra Leone, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s interest in the development of the West Coast and broader African progress. He spoke about Nigeria’s longstanding investment in Sierra Leone and how it has positively impacted the region. “Nigeria’s decades-long investment in Sierra Leone has contributed to Africa’s progress and promoted bilateral relations,” the president said.
The High Commissioner of Sierra Leone expressed his gratitude for Nigeria’s ongoing support in maintaining the unity of his country. He shared a personal perspective, highlighting the presence and contributions of Nigerians in Sierra Leone. “In Sierra Leone, more Nigerians are doing business than Sierra Leoneans. Most of my teachers in school were Nigerians. There is no difference between a Nigerian and a Sierra Leonean when you are walking in the streets of Freetown,” the envoy remarked.
At another meeting, President Tinubu discussed the warm relationship between Nigeria and Ethiopia, stressing the importance of continued cooperation between the two nations. “We need to continue pursuing peace in our continent. We need to work hard together to promote peace and stability. Our challenge in Africa is insecurity. Insecurity detracts from development. We do not have anybody that will bring peace to us, except we work for it,” he said, underscoring the need for collaborative efforts to address security challenges.
The Ethiopian ambassador reciprocated by emphasizing the significance of building upon the achievements of his predecessors and deepening the cultural ties between the two nations. “I am in Nigeria to build on the achievements of my predecessors. We will focus on culture. Our cultural relations are a big industry, already enhanced by the Ethiopian Airline,” he stated, highlighting the cultural exchange and growing cooperation between Nigeria and Ethiopia.
Following these discussions, President Tinubu also met with the Apostolic Nuncio of the Vatican. After receiving the Letter of Credence from the Vatican envoy, the president praised the Catholic Church for its continuous investment in education and its role in poverty alleviation efforts in Nigeria. “We have a lot of value for education in Nigeria, and the Catholic Church has done a lot in that regard, as well as in fighting poverty. Education reduces ignorance and poverty,” President Tinubu remarked, commending the church’s contributions to the country’s development.