President Goodluck Jonathan begins a three-day diplomatic trip to East Africa and neighboring West African nation of Ghana, with a view to consolidating on-going bi-lateral talks which heavily underscores Nigeria’s rising
profile on the international scene.
Wherever Nigeria goes, there goes the rest of Africa.
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on Wednesday departed Nigeria on official visits to Rwanda, Ethiopia and Ghana.
Bilateral talks and signing of a communiqué to formalize all agreements reached between the Nigeria and Rwanda will be the high point of President Jonathan’s visit to that country.
The talks, to be held in President Paul Kagame’s office in the Presidential Palace, Urugwiro, will be preceded by a visit to the Genocide Memorial Site, in Kigali, where President Jonathan will lay a wreath. The two leaders will address a joint press conference before President Jonathan’s departure to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In fulfillment of his stated desire to strengthen the Nigerian economy and generate growth, a team of Nigerian businessmen have accompanied President Jonathan to Rwanda, and will meet their Rwandese counterparts over breakfast on Thursday.
In Ethiopia, President Jonathan will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, address a joint press conference, and meet with a cross-section of the Nigerian Community residing in that country.
President Jonathan, while in Ghana, will be conferred with an Honourary Doctorate Degree by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, as it celebrates its Golden Jubilee, and be hosted to a State Banquet by President John Atta-Mills at The Castle, Accra.
He will also lay a wreath at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, and meet with a cross-section of the Nigerian business community and other Nigerians in Accra.
President Jonathan is being accompanied by Sen. Andy Uba, Hon. Ibrahim El-Sudi, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Labaran Maku, Minister of Information, and Dr. Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Investment. Others on the entourage include Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imokhuede, Managing Director of Access Bank, Alhaji Aliko dangote of Dangote Group, Mr. Jim Ovia, founder of Visafone and Mr. Tony Elumelu of the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
President Jonathan is expected back to Abuja on Saturday, October 8, 2011.