Nigeria and the African Union (AU) Commission have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation on continental development, institutional reforms, regional peace and economic transformation.
The commitment was made during a bilateral meeting in Abuja between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.
The meeting focused on advancing the implementation of Agenda 2063, strengthening the African Union, promoting constitutional governance, and addressing security challenges across the continent, particularly in the Sahel, Guinea-Bissau, and Madagascar.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu commended the AU Commission’s leadership under Mr Youssouf and reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for reforms aimed at improving the effectiveness of the continental body.
She also welcomed the Commission’s recognition of Nigeria’s permanent membership of the African Monetary Institute (AMI) mechanism and requested the issuance of the necessary corrigendum to formally reflect the decision of the AU Assembly and Executive Council.
The minister further appreciated the appointment of qualified Nigerians into the African Union system and called for more opportunities for Nigerian professionals.
In his response, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf assured Nigeria that its concerns would be addressed in line with the African Union’s recruitment procedures and quota system, while pledging to increase the number of qualified Nigerians serving within the organization.
He described Nigeria as a “Tier One Member State,” acknowledging its longstanding leadership role and significant financial contributions to the African Union.
Both sides also reviewed political developments across Africa, stressing the need for sustained dialogue, constitutional governance, and African-led solutions to emerging political and security challenges.
They further emphasized the importance of investing in agriculture, industrialization, digital technology, artificial intelligence, innovation, and job creation.
RN
