Nigeria seeks parnership with Namibia on culture, tourism

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has called for the implementation of the various Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Nigeria and Namibia, especially in the areas of culture and tourism, to ensure that they translate into economic benefits for the two countries.

The minister made this call in Abuja on Thursday, January 13, 2022, when he received the Namibian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Humphrey Geiseb, on a courtesy visit.

According to Mohammed, he observed that the bilateral cooperation between the two nations, which dates back to 1992 on the platform of the first Nigeria-Namibia Joint Commission, expired without implementation, and expressed the hope that the MoUs will be revived for implementation this time around. He said:

“Because the agreement on tourism cooperation between both countries suffered from lack of follow-up, a separate MoU on tourism cooperation was decided upon during the third session of the Joint Commission in 2008, and signed six years later, in 2014. Unfortunately, the MoU, which had a lifespan of five years, has expired and nothing has been done. I am aware that efforts are on to renew the MoU for another five years. Hopefully, this time, we will act to implement the MoU.”

The Minister also promised to encourage a working relationship between Nollywood and the Namibian Film Industry, against the background of the interest expressed by a talented Namibian actress to feature in Nollywood movies as a way of further honing her professional skills.

Mohammed, who welcomed the support offered by Namibia to help improve Elephant conservation in Nigeria, stressed that with global warming and poaching, African wildlife is in danger of extinction. He appreciated the Namibian government for supporting Nigeria with 279 wildlife animals in line with the signed MoU on Cooperation in the area of wildlife with the Government of Bauchi State. “The animals, which comprised of 10 Giraffes, 53 Burchell’s Zebras, 14 Elands, 23 Blue Wildebeests, 21 Red Hartebeests, 24 Oryx, 26 Kudus, 52 Springboks and 56 Common Impalas, were placed at the Sumu Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located in Ganjuwa Local Council of Bauchi State.”

The Namibian High Commissioner recounted the support, which Namibia received from Nigeria in its struggle for independence. He said the Namibia-Nigeria Joint Commission, which last met in 2010, will meet next month to consider all the various areas of cooperation between the two countries.

Geiseb listed additional areas of cooperation to include creative industries, beef infrastructure, animal conservation, tourism and oil and gas sector.