Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening bilateral relations with Canada as the newly appointed Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada, Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole, presented his Letters of Credence to Canada’s Governor General, Louise Arbour.
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, disclosed that Adewole presented his Letters of Credence in Ottawa on September 15, formally marking the commencement of his diplomatic engagements in Canada.
Adeniyi said Adewole expressed appreciation to the Canadian Government for accepting his nomination and conveyed the “fraternal greetings” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Governor General.
The High Commissioner also conveyed Tinubu’s “felicitations and best wishes” to Arbour on her assumption of office as the 31st Governor General of Canada.
During the audience, Adewole highlighted the longstanding cordial relations between Nigeria and Canada and expressed Nigeria’s readiness to expand cooperation between both countries.
The High Commissioner said Nigeria was prepared to “work closely with the Canadian authorities to expand mutually beneficial cooperation and build on the existing foundation of friendship between both countries.”
Adewole also highlighted Nigeria’s efforts to promote democracy, good governance and counter-terrorism in Africa.
According to Adeniyi, the High Commissioner noted Nigeria’s role in addressing regional security and developmental challenges through the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, and the African Union, AU.
Earlier during the ceremony, Arbour described Letters of Credence as an “instrument of trust between states”, while emphasising the importance of rules-based cooperation among countries.
The Governor General also spoke about the consequences of conflict, climate change and pressures arising from the global race for technological innovation.
She urged countries to create “the right conditions for peace, greater prosperity and improved quality of life.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the ceremony underscored the importance of sustained Nigeria-Canada engagement based on mutual respect and shared interests, supported by longstanding people-to-people and institutional ties.
It added that Adewole had expressed his determination to use his tenure to “expand and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation” and contribute to further consolidating relations between Nigeria and Canada.
The Nigerian Government, the ministry said, looked forward to “continued constructive engagement with Canada” in advancing shared objectives, particularly in promoting peace, development, democratic governance and mutually beneficial international partnerships.
