By Adedapo Adesanya
The European Union (EU) has revealed its readiness to deepen its partnership with Nigeria towards addressing the challenges confronting the country.
The newly accredited EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Samuela Isopi, made this disclosure while highlighting some of the activities and intervention of the EU in Nigeria.
She said the European Union’s would engage more with the government and other stakeholders.
“The EU will continue to engage with the Nigerian government, civil society organisation and all stakeholders to work on the same issue on which both nations have built partnerships.
“We will continue to support Nigerian civil society organisations, democratic institutions, good governance, gender and youth agenda. We will continue to support Nigeria to fight the challenges of insecurity, poverty and other regional issues.”
While saying that Nigeria has remained an EU strategic partner in Africa, the Ambassador said no stone would be left unturned to continue engagement with the country that would turn around its fortune.
She particularly listed some areas of cooperation to include post-COVID reconstruction, climate change, immigration, youth agenda, strengthening of democratic structures, among others.
On the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aimed at arriving at a single market on the continent, the EU ambassador described the pact as a right step in the right direction as it would promote economic integration in Africa.
“AfCFTA is a key development for Nigeria, Africa and Europe. We are convinced that Africa can gain through more integration,” she said, adding that the EU also passed through a similar path.
She assured of the continuous support of the EU to AfCFTA saying “we have been supporting and we will continue to do that.”
Speaking further, Mrs Isopi said the EU would also focus attention on programmes that would ensure a better future for Nigerian youths.
“We will build on that partnership, we will work together about opportunities for the youth, opportunities for industries and investments, we work together on positive agenda,” she said.
