The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Nigeria to the Republic of Burundi, His Excellency, Ambassador Elijah Onyeagba PhD, recently visited the Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency Prof Chukwuma Soludo, alongside the Leadership of Burundi’s Ruling Party CNDD-FDD, led by its National Chairman(SG) Hon Reverien Ndikuriyo and other Embassy envoys in continuation of the Embassy’s diplomatic political consultation across key players in the Nigerian governance and political sector.
The Head of the Nigerian Mission in Burundi disclosed to the press after the visit that he had formally congratulated the Governor on his ascension to the office of the Chief Executive Officer of Anambra State and equally discussed more strategic areas of partnership between the Nigerian Mission in Bujumbura and the Anambra State Government.
According to Dr. Elijah Onyeagba, “Anambra State is heavily endowed with energized, innovative, creative and hard working youths, whom when encouraged with strategic political and economic polices will rule the world”.
“Anambra people are blessed with hard working people, who exhibit ingenious business acumen, resilience, creative spirit of innovation and a wonderful disposition as a peace loving people. We are here with the Leadership of Burundi’s Ruling Party CNDD-FDD led by its National Chairman(SG) Hon Reverien Ndikuriyo as part of our continuous political consultation in pursuance of the newly signed Nigeria-Burundi Joint Commission, which has educational cooperation, political consultation and economic partnership as its core ingredients” Amb Onyeagba said.
His Excellency Ambassador Elijah Onyeagba recalled that he nurtured and midwifed the Nigeria-Burundi Joint Commission, which came into effect after its adoption and signing by both economies on July 30th 2021. This has enabled the Embassy reach out to the wider economic, social and political spectra of both countries, which has produced great innovation.
For example, the Embassy invited the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikwe University Awka, Prof Charles Okechukwu Esimone and relevant key players in the educational sector to Bujumbura for a Technical Session with the University of Burundi, ably led by its Vice Chancellor, Prof Sanctus Niragira, to explore potential cooperation opportunities in student/Lecturer exchange programs, capacity building, research and grant collaboration in Bujumbura. This culminated in the signing, sealing and exchange of MOU between Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria and the University of Burundi for technical cooperation in academics and research which will see to providing educational exchange opportunities to over 300 students per year between the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka community and the University of Burundi in Medicine, Engineering, Law and Humanities including lecturers alike. A milestone which according to him will offer our deserving academics and students exposure to international learning.
He also shared that the Embassy had engaged many Anambra youths in its diplomatic programs in Bujumbura, which include the just concluded RunBuja2021 that saw five Anambra indigenes participating alongside other international participants in the December 2021 maiden edition of the programme.
He promised to open up more diplomatic fronts for greater partnership with the Anambra State Government, especially the Ministries of Culture & Tourism, Youths & Sports and Education in the areas of youth empowerment in ICT, trade and investment, tourism and the entertainment/creative sectors.
The highly elated Governor of Anambra State, Prof Soludo, expressed his best wishes and promised his support for policies that will transform the State into a destination of choice for visitors and investors.
He thanked the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Nigeria to the Republic of Burundi for the wonderful breakthroughs in his diplomatic engagements, extolling him as a true son of Anambra State, who has made the State proud.