Nigeria will seek stronger cooperation with member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on humanitarian affairs, security, youth empowerment and economic development at the organisation’s Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The meeting, scheduled for Thursday, August 27, will also provide Nigeria an opportunity to promote investment opportunities in the country and deepen partnerships with OIC institutions and investors.
The Nigerian delegation is being led by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, who departed from the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on Tuesday.
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Speaking with journalists before his departure, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria’s participation was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the country’s 4-D Foreign Policy Doctrine of Demography, Development, Diaspora and Democracy.
He said Nigeria’s engagement with the Islamic world was focused on strategic partnerships capable of delivering tangible benefits to Nigerians, rather than ideological or religious considerations.
“This is a journey of strategic partnership and purpose devoid of ideological or religious fixation. Nigeria goes to Jeddah to advance cooperation that delivers real benefits to our people,” the minister said.
According to him, the Federal Government will pursue stronger partnerships in areas capable of promoting peace, prosperity and development while deepening Nigeria’s relations with the Islamic world.
On humanitarian and security cooperation, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria would advocate the operationalisation of a Nigeria-OIC Working Group on Humanitarian Affairs.
He said the proposed mechanism would strengthen regional responses to insecurity and humanitarian crises in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel, while supporting interfaith dialogue, rehabilitation of displaced communities and efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism.
The minister said Nigeria would also push for expanded OIC-supported programmes targeting youth and women, particularly in vocational training, healthcare, women’s empowerment and cultural exchanges.
He said such initiatives would equip young Nigerians with relevant skills while promoting peace, unity and cooperation among OIC member states.
On economic diplomacy, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria would use the meeting to showcase the country’s ongoing economic reforms and investment opportunities under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He listed agriculture, manufacturing, Business Process Outsourcing, automotive, oil and gas, and commerce among the sectors Nigeria would promote to potential investors.
The minister added that the Nigerian delegation would engage OIC investors and institutions on Business-to-Business and Business-to-Government partnerships aimed at attracting foreign direct investment and accelerating economic diversification.
The meeting is also expected to consider institutional matters, including the election of a new Secretary-General of the OIC.
Enikanolaiye said Nigeria would engage constructively in the process to support the emergence of leadership committed to unity, reform and people-centred programmes across the 57-member organisation.
He also noted that the OIC had implemented several programmes and projects in Nigeria, contrary to the perception in some quarters that its activities were driven by religious considerations.
“Unknown to many, the OIC has been executing many programmes and projects across the country without religious bias,” he said.
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to multilateralism and strengthening solidarity among OIC member states, describing the organisation as the second-largest intergovernmental organisation after the United Nations.
He said Nigeria, which has been an active member of the OIC since 1986, would continue to play a leading role in promoting peace, development and cooperation among its 57 member states.
“Nigeria remains a committed member of the OIC. We will work with all member states to ensure our collective decisions reflect the aspirations of over 1.8 billion people and contribute to global peace and development,” he added.
The Minister of State is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts and OIC officials on the sidelines of the Council of Foreign Ministers meeting to advance Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic and development interests.