The Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Namibia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties for mutual benefit, during a high-level engagement on the sidelines of the ongoing 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) in New York.
The renewed diplomatic momentum came as Namibia’s President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, paid a courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, who is representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the global summit.
Namibia’s First Female President Visits Nigerian VP at UNGA
President Nandi-Ndaitwah, Namibia’s first female head of state who assumed office on March 21, 2025, expressed deep appreciation for Nigeria’s historical support, particularly during her country’s liberation and post-independence development.
“Nigeria played a significant role in our journey to independence and continues to be a valued partner in Namibia’s development,” she said.
She also acknowledged the longstanding contributions of Nigerian diplomats to Namibia’s nation-building and pledged to visit Nigeria soon for further diplomatic engagements.
Shettima: Time to Take Nigeria-Namibia Relations to the Next Level
In response, Vice President Shettima thanked the Namibian President for the symbolic visit and emphasized the need to elevate Nigeria-Namibia bilateral relations to a new strategic level.
“This is the time to explore new avenues of cooperation across trade, education, agriculture, and technology,” Shettima said.
The meeting was attended by senior Nigerian officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, and Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa.
Nigeria, Gates Foundation Deepen Partnership in Health, Education, and Agriculture
In a separate high-level meeting, Vice President Shettima also held talks with a delegation from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, led by its CEO Mark Suzman, to discuss enhanced investments in human capital development in Nigeria.
Shettima praised the foundation for its critical role in improving healthcare, agriculture, and financial inclusion across the country, particularly commending its support for cassava production and entrepreneurial initiatives.
“In the Gates Foundation, we have a partner that we trust. If more high-net-worth individuals gave like Bill Gates, the world would be a better place,” Shettima said.
He noted that the Tinubu administration is targeting an annual growth rate of 7%, driven by reforms in infrastructure, education, agriculture, and macroeconomic stability.
Education Minister Appeals for More Support in Foundational Learning
Also speaking at the meeting, Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, appealed for the Gates Foundation’s expanded involvement in Nigeria’s foundational education, including support for technology integration, AI, and machine learning in schools.
“We don’t have much support in foundational education, and we would appreciate more targeted interventions,” Alausa said.
Responding, Mark Suzman confirmed the foundation’s strong commitment to Nigeria, noting it is one of their most important partners in Africa.
“We are seeing progress in digital identity, financial inclusion, and health systems. We’ve also signed new grants with the Central Bank of Nigeria to support this momentum,” Suzman said.
He praised President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima’s leadership and pledged continued support across key sectors, including education and economic empowerment.
