The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) diplomatic missions in Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Nigeria in areas such as education, trade, and investment. This pledge was made during the “Essence of ASEAN” festival reception, hosted by the High Commission of Malaysia in Nigeria in partnership with the Embassies of The Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The festival, which aims to promote cultural understanding and collaboration between ASEAN member countries and Nigeria, highlighted the importance of fostering people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation. High Commissioner of Malaysia, Mr. Aiyub Omar, who is also the current chairman of the ASEAN Committee in Abuja, emphasized the significance of the event in raising awareness of ASEAN’s cultural offerings and opportunities in Nigeria.
Malaysia has been a partner to Nigeria since 1965, and this year marks the 60th anniversary of their bilateral relations. According to Mr. Omar, interest in travel to Malaysia has surged, with over 300 applications from Nigerians to visit the country each month. Additionally, more than 3,000 Nigerians are currently studying in Malaysian universities, both public and private.
The Philippines Ambassador, Mr. Mersole Mellejor, called for greater awareness of ASEAN among Nigerians, stating that efforts must be made to increase exposure and understanding of ASEAN’s aspirations as a vital partner to Africa. He emphasized the importance of increasing ASEAN’s visibility and engagement with Nigeria, recognizing the potential of collaborating within a collective market of nearly 1 billion people across ASEAN and West Africa.
The Vietnamese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Bui Quoc Hung, highlighted the festival’s role in promoting the unique cultures, traditions, and cuisines of the ten ASEAN countries. He expressed optimism about the potential for increased engagement, particularly with Nigeria, which he described as a resilient nation. The festival also marks the upcoming official membership of Timor-Leste in ASEAN, which underlines the growing influence of the regional bloc.
Ms. Laksanavadee Kaewkramol, Charge d’Affaires of the Royal Thai Embassy, conveyed gratitude to the Malaysian High Commissioner for organizing the event and showcased ASEAN’s cultural richness. “With over 600 million people, ASEAN is one of the most dynamic regions in the world,” she stated. She also underscored the ongoing expansion of trade and investment relationships with Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, emphasizing the importance of people-to-people exchanges.
Representing the Nigerian Foreign Ministry, Amb. Janet Olisa expressed appreciation for the support and emphasized Nigeria’s strong connections with ASEAN countries. She pointed out that ASEAN has a lot to offer in terms of educational exchange programs, leveraging the robust network of institutions available in the region. “ASEAN has taught us that the first thing you need to do is trade among yourself, tourism among yourself, before you go out,” Olisa said. “So you have to build each other’s economy, each other’s trade, and we borrowed the lead from the West African Economic Summit taking place tomorrow for all West African countries.”
The event demonstrated the commitment of ASEAN diplomatic missions to strengthening bilateral ties with Nigeria and promoting cultural understanding and cooperation between the two regions. As ASEAN continues to expand its influence and engagement with Nigeria, the potential for increased trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges is vast.
