The 11th session of the Nigeria–South Africa Bi-National Commission, BNC, commenced on Monday with a ministerial meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.
Co-chaired by Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Roland Lamola, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, the meeting set the stage for Tuesday’s presidential session to be led by President Bola Tinubu and President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Nigeria’s delegation includes ministers of state for defence, women affairs, trade and investments, agriculture, and communications, alongside the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service.
They joined South African ministers and senior officials to strengthen ties between the two nations.
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The ministerial session focused on reviewing progress in bilateral cooperation and finalising agreements to enhance collaboration across key sectors.
Discussions spanned trade, migration, security, banking, and social cooperation, with a significant focus on capacity building. Highlighting the need for professional development, Odumegwu-Ojukwu called for South Africa’s support in certifying geologists and other professionals, an initiative to enhance Nigeria’s mining sector.
“Nigeria has prepared Memorandums of Understanding for South Africa’s review to strengthen the global competitiveness of Nigerian professionals,” she stated.
The minister also praised the enduring partnership between the two nations since the commission’s establishment in 1999 and urged participants to approach discussions with trust and enthusiasm.
The 2024 BNC coincides with the 25th anniversary of the framework, marking a significant milestone and underscores the importance of collaborative efforts to foster economic growth and mutual benefits for Africa’s leading economies.
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