The South Korean Embassy in Nigeria has joined the international community in mourning the late former President Muhammadu Buhari for advancing South Korea-Nigeria relations during his tenure.

Mr Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2015 to 2023, died after an illness on Sunday at a London hospital. His spokesperson, Garba Shehu, and former aide, Bashir Ahmad, confirmed his death.

In a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the South Korean Embassy expressed deep sorrow over Mr Buhari’s passing and acknowledged his significant role in fostering strong diplomatic relations between the two countries.

“It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“His leadership helped shape Nigeria’s path and contributed to the growth of South Korea and Nigeria relations.

“Our thoughts are with his family and the people of Nigeria during this time of loss,” the statement read.

According to the statement, during Mr Buhari’s presidency, Nigeria and South Korea expanded cooperation in areas such as trade, energy, education, and technology.

The embassy said that notable among the efforts were joint initiatives to boost industrial capacity and enhance human capital development.

The embassy noted that Mr Buhari’s administration provided a platform for deeper diplomatic engagement and mutual understanding, which laid the groundwork for future collaboration between both nations.

(NAN)