Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Aiyub bin Omar, has reiterated his country’s dedication to strengthening diplomatic relations with Nigeria, particularly in the areas of trade and education, as they approach 60 years of bilateral relations next year. He added that 3,386 Nigerian students are pursuing higher education in Malaysian public and private institutions of learning.
Speaking at an event commemorating Nigeria’s 67th Independence Day and Malaysia’s 61st National Day recently, Omar highlighted that the total bilateral trade between both countries reached $747 million in July 2024.
“In essence, our bilateral relations focus on trade, education, people-to-people contact and bilateral development assistance. Globally, Nigeria ranks as Malaysia’s 37th trading partner, with total bilateral trade peaking at $956 million in 2023. This year, our bilateral trade reached $747 million in July,” he divulged.
He also noted that Nigeria currently ranks as Malaysia’s fourth largest trading partner in Africa, following South Africa, Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, who was represented by the director of the Asia-Pacific Division in the ministry, Mistura Abdulraheem, commended the Malaysian people for their unity, resilience, and progress. Tuggar highlighted the collaboration between both countries, which he said has facilitated critical exchanges in technology transfer, capacity building and innovation.
“This partnership in technology highlights the potential of our countries working together to address the challenges of the 21st century. By leveraging Malaysia’s advancements in areas such as ICT, digital innovation, sustainable development and oil markets, we are creating opportunities for our people and economies,” he added.
He noted that Nigeria and Malaysia have a long-standing diplomatic relationship built on mutual respect, shared aspirations, and common interests.
“Our two countries have enjoyed strong diplomatic ties for decades, built on a foundation of cooperation in various sectors, including trade, education, and technology,” he said.
The Malaysian High Commissioner added that since 1981, 569 Nigerian government officials have benefited from the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) in various technical courses, including trade, economy, construction skills and cybersecurity.
Additionally, he pointed out that Malaysia remains a preferred destination for Nigerian students pursuing tertiary education, judging by the number of students enrolled in Malaysian schools.
In a related development, the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN) announced that the Federal Government is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Malaysian Government to advance the development of palm biomass in Nigeria. The focus of this initiative is to transform waste into wealth by collaborating with Malaysian counterparts to replicate the success of Malaysia’s palm biomass industry in Nigeria.
NPPAN’s President, Alphosus Inyang, highlighted the potential economic impact of this development, projecting a contribution of at least, $10 billion to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) within four years and the generation of over five million jobs in five years.
