I am here to deepen relations with Nigeria-Kuwait Ambassador

What is your opinion about Nigeria upon arrival here?I arrived in your beautiful country of recent, saddled with the responsibility of representing His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Aljaber Alsabah, the Emir of the State of Kuwait as the new resident ambassador to Nigeria, praying God to make my responsibility of enhancing the bilateral relationship between […]

What is your opinion about Nigeria upon arrival here?
I arrived in your beautiful country of recent, saddled with the responsibility of representing His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Aljaber Alsabah, the Emir of the State of Kuwait as the new resident ambassador to Nigeria, praying God to make my responsibility of enhancing the bilateral relationship between our friendly countries a fruitful one. I also wish to avail myself of this opportunity to congratulate his President Goodluck Jonathan on the 53rd independence anniversary of Nigeria.  I would as well like to extend my greetings to Vice President Namadi Sambo and the entire people of Nigeria. It is a great honour for me to contribute to enhance the brotherly relations between our friendly countries, and to multiply efforts as to deepen it in all fields, be it political, economical, social and cultural. By now we have two bilateral agreements between Kuwait and Nigeria that are set to be signed. We also have four more agreements undergoing study and amendments.
To what extent is your country engaged in cooperation with African countries?
The State of Kuwait has opened a new chapter in the multilateral cooperation with Arab-African nations, likewise its readiness to host the 3rd Arab-African summit from 18-20 November 2013 with the theme: “Partners in Development and Investment”. The State of Kuwait is honoured by being  given the right to host this summit. Kuwait is highly interested in the participation of African states and Nigeria in particular for its strategic importance and dynamic roles on the African continent. Kuwait is therefore desirous of seeing Nigeria participating at her highest level. As a matter of fact the emir of the State of Kuwait His highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Aljaber Alsabah has already sent a special invitation to President Goodluck Jonathan.
Has Kuwait made any contributions to the development of African countries or Nigeria in particular?
Kuwait has for long established remarkable relations with Africa by having a number of embassies within the continent that facilitate cooperation in many fields, it is very much visible in the loans and grants given through the Kuwait Fund that supports 40 African countries in their effort to achieve economic and social development. These projects are mainly in the fields of agriculture, transport, communications, energy, industry, water and sewage, health and education with a view to making it possible for the recipient countries to achieve the targets of the millennium development goals. These good relations with Africa is crowned by the presence of the Emir of Kuwait at an AU summit as a guest of honour and also the granting of Kuwait membership of the African Union as an observer, and at this level let me make mention that Kuwait helped equip the new AU secretariat in Addis Ababa in recognition of the role of this continental body.  As for Nigeria our relationship with this unique country is deeply rooted and dates back to the 1960s when Kuwait built the Alsabah Secondary School in Kaduna now known as Sardauna Memorial College. In fact, Kuwait appreciates the magnificent roles played by Nigeria in Africa and West Africa in particular as a stabilizing factor, a protector and promoter of democracy. Economically Nigeria is endowed with lots of blessings-fertile land, huge water and mineral resources, oil and gas and many others. All put together spell good investment opportunities and greater horizons for Nigeria’s economy. I wish the forthcoming summit will be a step forward and a cornerstone to the realization of the recommendations and suggestions emanating from the participants. I also want to see them practically applied in order to realize economic development for both continents.
What is the level of preparation for the summit?
The State of Kuwait held a preparatory meeting for the summit organizing committee with other Kuwaiti concerned authorities as follow up to all arrangements made and services to be rendered to the summit. Our deputy prime minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Alsabah presided over the meeting of the ministerial committee and coordinating ministers when in New York attending the meetings of the United Nations General Assembly, and that was to guarantee the success of the summit. The 2nd ministerial meeting of the Arab-African ministers for agriculture was also held last week. A meeting was held at the end of September to inform pioneer delegations about all arrangements and logistic preparations regarding the summit. In the last week of August, a meeting of the Three Parties Committee (Kuwait, AU, Arab League) held in Addis Ababa.  It has been decided that among work documents to be presented at the summit, there must be a joint report from both commissioners of the African Union and the Secretariat of the Arab league for the execution of the previous resolutions on political developments in Africa and the Arab world with the presentation of the joint Arab – African work plan for assessment and modernization particularly projects of mutual priority.
What are the main issues expected to be deliberated upon at the summit?
The summit will deliberate on priorities of the economic field, food security, trade and investment, private sector, infrastructure. It will also deliberate on priorities relating to projects in the social field such as women and immigration. We have underlined the importance of the meeting of the editing committee which will edit all articles in the final report to be agreed upon and presented soonest and adhering strictly to the schedule to ensure good preparation for the summit. The importance of shortening the work by presenting clear projects plan applicable and executable to be raised to the leaders has also been made clear. Both the African Union and the Arab league secretariats have officially submitted papers and documents relating to the summit during the coordinating meeting held in Cairo on June 22nd, 2013.