Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has said Nigeria and the European Union would continue to strengthen cooperation in different areas such as trade, security, education and technology,
Special Assistant to the Minister on Communication and New Media, Magnus Eze disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
Eze said the minister made the assertion during the 4th Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu Memorial Lecture, where the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, delivered the guest lecture on the theme- “Sustainable and Climate Resilience Future: Beyond Rhetorics.”
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the memorial lecture was particularly significant at a time the world was increasingly interconnected, yet confronted by complex challenges, ranging from security concerns and economic uncertainties to climate change and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
According to the minister, the EU Ambassador’s presence symbolised the strong and evolving partnership between Nigeria and the European Union.
“This partnership continues to yield tangible benefits in areas such as trade, education, governance, security cooperation, and capacity building,” the minister stated.
She also said that Nigeria will continue to play a pivotal role on the global stage, advancing peace, security, and development, particularly within the framework of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African continent at large.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed that the country’s foreign policy remained anchored on the principles of mutual respect, non-interference, strategic partnerships, and the protection of national interest.
The minister said: “I commend the organisers for putting together this important event and assure you of the continued support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in promoting educational diplomacy and international cooperation.”
She linked the theme to her late husband’s lifelong environmental ethos, noting that COOU’s promotion of climate resilience reflects the values of the man it honours.
She further recalled that the late leader “loved planting trees” and grasped early on that respecting nature’s balance was critical, even before climate action gained global prominence. “He understood long before many others that trees were the silent guardians of our air, our soil and our future,” she added.
The EU Ambassador, Mignot described the minister as a major promoter of Nigeria-EU partnership.
He noted that climate action could be expensive but said that it was more detrimental to do nothing.
