President Bola Tinubu yesterday kicked off his official engagements during the two day State Visit to the State of Qatar with a visit to the Museum in Doha. 

President Tinubu had before his engagements met with key ministers and top government officials last Friday night. Those at the meeting called to strategise for engagement with the hosts included Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development; Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Doris Uzoka-Anite, Minister of Trade and Investment; Jamila Ibrahim, Minister of Youth Development and Ali Pate, Minister of Health and Coordinating Minister of Social Welfare. 

The investment drive is on the sidelines of the State Visit at the invitation of Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar.  Mohammed saad Al Rumaihi, the CEO of Qatar Museums and Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Hamad Al Thani, the Director of National Museum of Qatar, are two officials that met and conducted the Nigerian leader around the facilities. 

The Museum, which was recently redesigned ahead of the 2022 FIFA world Cup, offers visitors access to a variety of materials used in Islamic art, including carpets and textiles, manuscripts, ceramics, wood, ivory, metalwork, stone and glass. 

President Tinubu is expected to see pieces of materials dating back to the earliest Islamic period from the 20th century, spanning Spain and North Africa to the Far East.

The host is also expected to conduct his visitor to view the early Hijazi Quran fragments, the sitara of the Holy Kaaba, the Moroccan arch, a copy of al-Sufi’s treatise on the fixed stars, the Abbasid blue-and-white bowl, the Seljuq stucco panel, the Doha Hind and the post-Islamic Spanish ceiling.

Visit to the Museum, heralds other events and would culminate in the signing of agreements in eight areas today between Nigeria and the Qatari government.

From the Museum, President Tinubu will visit the Qatar Foundation responsible for promoting Qatar government humanitarian activities in other countries, including Nigeria.

The Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development is a state-led non-profit organisation in Qatar. The institution, which was founded in 1995 by the then Emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and his second wife Moza bint Nasser Al-Missne, has been linked to development of schools, houses and health facilities in several countries, including Nigeria. 

The Foundation helped Nigeria with infrastructure including schools, residential houses and health facilities in states ravaged by insecurity.
President Tinubu will later present a trophy to the winner of a Longine organised horse competition in the company of his hosts.

Also today, President Tinubu will engage the business community and join his host at the Palace of the Emir of Qatar for the signing of agreements. 
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, who is on the President’s entourage to Doha, and other Ministers who spoke with journalists, expressed deep appreciation to their host for providing the opportunities to engage with the Qatar investors and look forward to a rewarding experience. 

He cited the areas of agriculture, particularly, livestock farming as one of the most important areas that Nigeria business community can benefit from. Sani noted that Nigeria’s solid minerals development plans will also get a boost as a result of the engagements, especially by the sub-national governments. 

“The Qatar Foundation has only five months ago invested millions of dollars to support the under privileged people in Kaduna State, by building hundreds of houses, hospitals for the less privileged people.

Kaduna State is also looking at a strong partnership in the solid minerals sector as the state is blessed with lithium and gold. These, including the area of livestock development, are areas we can collaborate with the Qatar government,” Sani said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tuggar, said Nigeria expects a strong partnership between the two countries going forward, as Qatar, which is the third largest gas producer, seeks to open up investment opportunities for the Nigerian business community. 

“It will interest you to know that Qatar investors are in several countries in Africa, but not in Nigeria. “Nigeria and Qatar jointly have stakes in the future of gas, as the debate is on as to the future of gas in the energy transition plans,” he said.

Speaking on the benefits of the visit for MSMEs in Nigeria, Tuggar said the visit provides opportunities for the business community to further engage with their Qatar partners to explore a mutually beneficial relationship. 

Minister of Youth Development, Ibrahim, on his part, expressed high hopes for the Nigerian youth as the Ministry was able to mobilise youths to Qatar on the President’s instructions to engage with their business community for mutual benefits.

“We are here with about 17 young entrepreneurs in our team to attend the Nigeria/ Qatar business summit and we are looking forward to securing cooperation in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and oil and gas,” he said.