Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to strengthening cooperation with WTO

AKINSINDE ADEOLA OYINDAMOLA/with agency reports 

Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON, made this reaffirmation during a meeting with the Director-General of World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on the sidelines of the ongoing BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India.

He assured WTO of Nigeria’s continued support in championing the cause of multilateralism, underscoring that no nation could isolate itself from the global community.

While extolling Nigerians in Diaspora for distinguishing themselves in various fields of human endeavour, the Vice President highlighted global migration as a driver of international development.

He commended Dr. Okonjo-Iweala for her exemplary leadership of the WTO and encouraged her to continue leveraging her wealth of experience and expertise in advancing global development.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Promotes Nigerians’ Welfare in India, Seeks Stronger Economic Ties
The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, held a bilateral meeting with her Indian counterpart, H.E. Dr. S. Jaishankar, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India.

During discussions, the Honourable Minister sought an extension of India’s amnesty programme that would allow more Nigerians overstayed visas to voluntarily return home without penalties.

The two Ministers also considered the prospect of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the transfer of Sentenced Persons, to facilitate the humane and orderly transfer of eligible prisoners between both countries.

They identified education and cultural exchanges as key drivers of stronger people-to-people ties, noting that increased collaboration in these areas would foster mutual understanding and expand opportunities for citizens of both countries.

The Ministers also reviewed the state of economic cooperation between the two countries, exploring opportunities for the expansion of trade and investment, while identifying avenues for new economic partnerships.