Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has reaffirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “4Ds” foreign policy agenda is guiding Nigeria’s renewed commitment to promoting democracy across Africa.
She made this known in Abuja when she received Malawi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nancy Gladys Tembo, who paid her a courtesy visit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu explained that the Tinubu administration’s 4Ds—Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora—form the pillars of Nigeria’s foreign policy direction. She said Nigeria remains committed to supporting democratic governance in Africa, citing Malawi’s forthcoming general elections in September as an opportunity for Nigeria to extend its solidarity.
“I know too that the Nigerian government would support Malawi in its general elections coming up in September this year. In our President’s 4Ds foreign policy thrust, democracy is a major plank. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to seeing democracy entrenched in African States,” she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu welcomed Malawi’s plans to open an embassy in Abuja this year, describing it as a step that would strengthen bilateral ties and deepen cooperation between both countries. She also noted with concern that two Memoranda of Understanding signed between Nigeria and Malawi since 2012 remained dormant but expressed optimism that the establishment of Malawi’s diplomatic mission in Nigeria would revive these agreements.
“We have two MOUs that need to be reactivated. They were signed in 2012 after President Goodluck Jonathan visited Malawi. So, we’re looking forward to your opening the embassy. It’s surprising that Nigeria and Malawi have not been able to concretise our excellent bilateral relationship. Your opening a resident diplomatic mission here will herald a new era in our engagements,” she said.
The Minister further encouraged Malawi to take advantage of Nigeria’s Technical Aids Corps to address shortages of trained teachers and other skilled professionals in the country’s key sectors.
“You just talked about lack of trained teachers; Nigeria can provide technical assistance to Malawi under the South-South Cooperation. Our Technical Aids Corps is there to assist by sending technical manpower. Nigeria pays these volunteers. Countries like Namibia are already enjoying this assistance. We recently approved their request for 40 nurses,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu added.
In her remarks, Malawi’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Nancy Tembo, said she leveraged her visit to Abuja for the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meeting to build closer ties with Nigeria. She expressed her country’s readiness to open an embassy in Abuja and enhance cooperation in areas such as trade, education, and mining.
“The Afreximbank meeting was an opportunity for people to meet. My country is looking forward to bilateral cooperation with Nigeria. We want to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Afreximbank has helped us to awaken our relationship,” she said.
Tembo praised Nigerian businesses operating in Malawi and invited Nigerian investors to explore opportunities in her country’s mining sector, saying Malawi was shifting from agriculture to harnessing its mineral wealth.
She described her visit as “exciting” and extended an invitation to Odumegwu-Ojukwu to visit Malawi.
