Nigeria and Namibia have stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral relations for the mutual benefit of both countries.

This decision was reached when the president of Namibia, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, paid a courtesy visit to Vice-President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the ongoing 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Mr Shettima is representing President Bola Tinubu at the global stage and will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the assembly on his behalf.

During the visit, Nandi-Ndaitwah, the first female president of Namibia, who assumed office on March 21, appreciated Nigeria’s significant role in supporting her country from before independence.

She also commended the roles of Nigerian diplomats in Namibia’s government and national life. The Namibia leader said she found it appropriate to leverage the UNGA opportunity to meet with Mr Shettima.

“I will still find time to pay a visit to Nigeria, to introduce myself to the president,” she promised.

Responding, Mr Shettima appreciated Nandi-Ndaitwah for the courtesy visit while wishing her administration well.

The vice-president stressed the need for the Nigeria-Namibia relations to be taken to the next level, going forward.

The courtesy call was witnessed by several diplomats and government officials from both sides, including foreign affairs minister Yusuf Tuggar. Others are the Ministers of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, and Education, Maruf Alausa.

In a related development, the vice-president also held a high-level meeting with a delegation from the Gates Foundation, led by its CEO, Mark Suzman.

Mr Shettima, who appreciated the foundation’s effort in improving Nigeria’s health sector, called for more investments from the foundation. He applauded the foundation for boosting agricultural productivity, especially the investment in the cassava projects.

The vice-president also commended the foundation for expanding access to financial services and gender empowerment initiatives, noting that entrepreneurial capitalism is embedded in the psyche of an average Nigerian.

“In the Gates Foundation, we have a partner that we trust and believe in. If all high network individuals can even make half of Bill Gates’ investments, this world will be a better place to live in,” he said.

(NAN)