As their bilateral ties near 60 years old by 2025, Aiyub bin Omar, Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, has reaffirmed his nation’s commitment to enhancing diplomatic ties with Nigeria, notably in trade and education.
Speaking on Friday in Abuja at a ceremony honoring the 67th Independence Day of Nigeria and the 61st National Day of Malaysia, Omar emphasized that by July 2023, total bilateral trade between the two nations had reached $747 million.
“In essence, our bilateral relations focus on trade, education, people-to-people contact, and bilateral development assistance. Nigeria is ranked as Malaysia’s 37th trading partner in the world, with $956 million in total bilateral trade in 2023. This year, our bilateral trade reached $747 million by July”, he said.
He added that, after South Africa, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria is currently Malaysia’s fourth-largest commercial partner in Africa.
The Director of the Asia-Pacific Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Mistura Abdulraheem, on behalf of Minister Amb. Yusuf Tuggar praised the Malaysian people for their growth, unity, and resiliency.
Tuggar emphasized how the two countries’ cooperation has made important exchanges in innovation, capacity building, and technology transfer possible.
“This technological alliance demonstrates the possibility of our countries working together to overcome 21st-century challenges. We are creating chances for our people and economy by using Malaysia’s advances in sectors like ICT, digital innovation, sustainable development, and oil markets,” he continued.
He mentioned the long-standing diplomatic ties between Malaysia and Nigeria, which are based on respect for one another, shared goals, and shared interests.
“Our two countries have enjoyed strong diplomatic ties for decades, built on a foundation of mutual cooperation in various sectors, including trade, education, and technology,” he stated.
According to the Malaysian High Commissioner, 569 government personnel from Nigeria have benefited from the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) since 1981. The program offers technical courses in a variety of subjects, such as cybersecurity, trade, economics, and construction skills.
Furthermore, he noted that 3,386 Nigerian students are currently enrolled in public and private universities in Malaysia, indicating that the country continues to be a top choice for these students seeking higher education.
In order to further the growth of palm biomass in Nigeria, the Federal Government is scheduled to sign a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Malaysian Government, according to the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN).
This initiative’s main goal is to turn this waste into money by working with Malaysian colleagues to emulate Malaysia’s palm biomass industry’s success in Nigeria.
The potential economic significance of this initiative was emphasized by NPPAN President Amb. Alphonsus Inyang, projected that it would add $10 billion to Nigeria’s GDP in four years and create over five million employment in five.
