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| Last Updated: Jan 19th, 2012 - 11:25:19 |
Analysis/Commentary
Nigeria and South Africa celebrate a decade of growing relations
Oct 28, 2009, 13:21
| | The growing bilateral ties between Nigeria and South Africa is set to receive further boost as both countries have earmarked a series of activities to mark the 10th year anniversary of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC).
The Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, will jointly host activities marking the celebrations with his South African counterpart, Kgalema Motlanthe, in both countries from October 26-29 in Cape Town, South Africa and November 12-14, 2009 in Abuja, Nigeria.
Dr. Jonathan is scheduled to leave for Cape Town, South Africa with a delegation of diplomats, Nigerian business executives and Presidential aides to attend the first part of the anniversary celebrations in that country.
Activities which have been lined up to commemorate a decade of the BNC include business roundtable parleys, several academic and civil society seminars, joint parliamentary sessions, women and youth meetings, arts and cultural displays, trade fair, sporting events, fashion shows, gala/dinner, among other events. The celebrations are also geared towards highlighting the need for trade and investments in the African continent
It would be recalled that at the First Review Council meeting between Vice President Jonathan and former South African Deputy President Baleka Mbete on December 9, 2008 in Pretoria, both countries agreed to mark and celebrate this milestone with a view to further consolidate the already strong bilateral relations.
The Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission emerged ten years ago out of a commitment by both countries to strengthen mutual ties through strategic engagements and interactions among their political leaders, diplomats and business executives.
The inaugural session held October 4-5, 1999 under the co-chairmanship of the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and former Deputy President and incumbent President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma.
Prior to 1999 when the BNC took off, there were just four South African companies in Nigeria. This trend has however changed significantly with over a hundred South African companies currently doing business in Nigeria. Also, due to South Africa’s increasing energy demands, crude oil alone accounts for 98% of Nigeria’s total exports to that country.
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