Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, says Nigeria and the African Union (AU) Commission have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, tackling security challenges and expanding investment in artificial intelligence (AI) to drive sustainable development across the continent.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed this in a post on her official X (formerly Twitter) account following a bilateral meeting with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, ahead of the 49th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council.

She said the discussions focused on Nigeria’s role within the African Union, the appointment of Nigerians into AU institutions, regional political developments and Africa’s socio-economic future.

According to the minister, both sides also reviewed the evolving security situation in West Africa and the Sahel, exchanging views on terrorism, humanitarian concerns and the need for sustained regional cooperation to promote peace and stability.

 

Odumegwu-Ojukwu noted that Youssouf commended Nigeria’s longstanding leadership within the African Union and ECOWAS, particularly its contributions to regional peace, security and integration.

She added that the AU Commission Chair emphasised the need for greater investment in innovation, job creation, agriculture, the services sector and artificial intelligence to accelerate Africa’s development.

According to her, Youssouf also observed that Africa has not invested sufficiently in AI and cited the Dangote Group’s investments across the continent as an example of African-led industrialisation promoting regional integration, self-reliance and employment opportunities.