Lukashenko at meeting with First Lady of Nigeria: we are very interested in your country, I think we will be useful to you
Belarus and Nigeria can provide significant development assistance to each other – as noted by President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko at today’s meeting with the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu
The Head of State warmly welcomed the guest and expressed confidence that this visit will have a beneficial effect on co-operation between Belarus and Nigeria, “I would really like to hope that, after your visit, your President and ministers will come to Belarus so that we can begin to liaise more closely. We are very interested in your country, and I think we will be useful to you… We know your needs and your capabilities very well. I would like to emphasise once again that this is very important for us, and we can significantly help you, as well as you can provide us with significant assistance in development.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko asked to convey his best wishes and an invitation to visit Belarus at any convenient time to President of Nigeria Bola Tinubu.
The Head of State outlined a number of promising areas of co-operation, “We are ready to provide you with assistance and support in the development of industry, as well as in the development of agriculture and the processing industry – especially in food production. We are also ready to create joint ventures for the production of various types of equipment.”
According to the President, Belarus is also ready to join the training of specialists from various industries for Nigeria and to deeper co-operation in the field of education. The President asked to convey to his Nigerian counterpart his request to organise a visit of Belarusian Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzhenkov to Nigeria in order to develop a plan for bilateral co-operation. Aleksandr Lukashenko clarified, “There, in your capital, at home, you will also be able to determine further contacts between our specialists and members of the Government with your specialists and members of the Government. In short, the plan that will be developed in your homeland by our minister and your specialists will be strictly followed, including by me.”
The Head of State also noted the importance of humanitarian co-operation, “It is good that you have come to us, you will visit our Slavianski Bazaar and see our and Slavic, including Russian, culture. Perhaps, you will bring a little bit of your culture to us next year.”
