By EricJames Ochigbo
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Sweden, Amb. Lola Akande has pledged to deepen economic, trade, investment and innovation cooperation between Nigeria, Sweden and other Nordic countries.
She made the pledge in a statement on Thursday following the formal presentation of Letters of Credence to King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.
Akande who is concurrently accredited to Denmark, Finland and Norway, said that her mandate included promoting Nigeria’s interests and deepen bilateral cooperation across the Nordic region.
She expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for entrusting her with the responsibility of representing Nigeria abroad.
She also thanked the government and people of Sweden for their warm reception, pledging to pursue a close, constructive and results-driven relationship between Nigeria and Sweden.
“The challenges and opportunities before our nations require purposeful partnership.
“Nigeria stands ready to work closely with the Government of Sweden, our fellow African missions and Nordic partners to advance shared priorities in trade, investment, innovation, sustainable development, peace and security,” she said.
Akande underscored the need for stronger Nigeria-Nordic cooperation in areas capable of driving economic growth, technology transfer, innovation and sustainable development.
Akande also underscored the importance of African unity and collective action, saying sustainable development would be better achieved through collaboration, mutual respect and practical partnerships.
She said that Letters of Credence will be presented in Denmark, Finland and Norway to further create opportunities for Nigeria to deepen its economic and institutional engagement across the Nordic region.
In a related development, the Director-General, Nigeria Nordic Business Alliance (NNBA) Dr Victor Oluwafemi, has lauded Akande’s credentialing as an opportunity to expand structured private-sector and institutional cooperation between Nigeria and the Nordic countries.
He said the alliance facilitates two-way access between Nigerian and Nordic investors, businesses and institutions while supporting partnerships in trade, investment, technology, innovation, skills development, infrastructure, maritime development and media collaboration.
Oluwafemi pledged to work and translate the longstanding goodwill between Nigeria and the Nordic countries into concrete opportunities for businesses, institutions and communities on both sides.