‘Nigerians in Canada are enriching our societies’

Can you examine the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Canada? What it was before you came and what it is now?We have a very good dynamic relationship with Nigeria which covers very broad range areas. One is the economic, trade and investment and there is tremendous growth and increase over the last two to three […]

Can you examine the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Canada? What it was before you came and what it is now?
We have a very good dynamic relationship with Nigeria which covers very broad range areas. One is the economic, trade and investment and there is tremendous growth and increase over the last two to three years. The steady increase in business interest started during those periods in bio-sector in Nigeria. We also have a significant development system here in Nigeria and we are pleased with the growing number of Nigeria students studying in Canada and also in terms of political contacts and cooperation in regional and multi-lateral level we are very strong in it.
Politically, what would be Canada’s contribution to the general elections next year?
We are looking up to the elections for Nigeria to further consolidate its democracy and I found that Nigeria have very strong attachment to democracy. We are very much looking forward to free fair, credible and peaceful elections come 2015.  Specifically, Canada has provided funding of $6 million through the United Nations Development Programme part of which is  to be to strengthen governance in Nigeria with a particular emphasis on strengthening the capacity of independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which has the responsibility of organizing elections.
Would Canada be sending election monitors for the 2015 general elections?       
We have not taken a decision yet about that but the Canada High Commission itself will be monitoring the elections as we have been doing in many parts of the world. It is the way we make our contribution and role of international observers including embassies and high commissions will very much compliment what Nigeria itself will be doing by the political parties and civil societies. I do hope that we will monitor it at the level of the staff of this mission.
What is the trade volume between Canada and Nigeria and what kind of products do both countries exchange to each other?
The trade volume is increasing every year and Nigeria is now the biggest trading partner of Canada in sub-Sahara Africa. Our export largely to Nigeria is US$460 million and Nigeria’s export to Canada is about three times that amount and is US$1.2 billion. So the balance is in Nigeria’s favour. Canada import wide range of items to Nigeria but most importantly, our export to Nigeria are grains, machineries, aircraft parts and in the other direction, Canada export oil mostly from Nigeria and now cocoa and grapple fruits.
One sector that our companies are very active in is renewable energy. You may be aware for example that Monitoba hydro international currently has contract with the transmission company of Nigeria to reform and strengthen capacity. Another Canadian company CDCS is managing the privatization of the GENCOs and DISCOs.
Canada is a very strong mining country and our mining sector has been developed for more than hundred years. I am very pleased that there are projects in place to share some of the Canadian experience with Nigeria and help Nigeria to develop its regulatory framework so that the mining sector can be developed in a responsible and sustainable way.
Another very interesting area is agriculture. I discovered that in some parts of the country some crops are waste and lost because there is no food processing chain in place. That can be done by number of Canadian companies and Nigerians are to look for technology transfer and partnership to share some of our expertise so mangoes for example are not left to waste but can be processed into juice and sell to other countries.
How many Nigerian students are there in Canadian institutions?
I am very happy to say that we have more than six thousand Nigerian students and Nigeria is now eight largest source of foreign students in our educational institutions. The number is growing up quickly. More Nigerians are going to study in Canada for a number of reasons. One is that our universities and high colleges are recognized for high standard for education, variety of programmes and the price is competitive compared to some other countries. One thing I would like to add is that Canada is a very open and welcoming society. We are largely country of immigrants and universities needs students from all over the world.
What is the population of Nigerian community in Canada, how can you described them in terms of their relationship with Canadians and do we have any of them in Canadian prisons?       
We have 20,000 or more Nigerians in Canada and we are delighted to have them. Although I don’t know how many precisely but many of them are Canadian citizens now and you find them in many walks of life such as business leaders, professors in the universities and many of them are in government. On the whole, they integrate very well and they are really enriching our societies. There are very few Nigerians in Canada prisons and they are less than ten.
What is Canada doing specifically to assist the ECOWAS region on the Ebola epidemic?   
We have been following the Ebola epidemic with great concern and Canada has announced a way of contributing $65 million through the organizations that provides support to the country most affected. Most of the funds go to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and to the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
I will also add that Canada public health agency has been working on a vaccine for Ebola and is showing very promising result testing with animals and we have donated a thousand doses of this vaccine which called VSV-EEOD to the WHO and they has decided to start experimenting with human volunteers.
Apart from donations to the international organization, did Canada also contribute to Ebola fund raised by the ECOWAS?        
As we continue to follow the Ebola cases, in the weeks to come we would see the best most effective ways to channel our contribution and we will look at all vehicles. I cannot predict but ECOWAS could be a potential vehicle to make the most effective use of the contribution and to the organizations that know the best way to channel the fund to the people who are affected.