The Wife of the Vice President of Nigeria, Hajiya Nana Shettima, has said that Nigeria and Brazil are bonded by shared values and traditions despite the geographical distance between them.
She added that there is a cultural connection between the two nations that must be sustained.
Shettima made these remarks while receiving the wife of Brazil’s Vice President, Mrs Maria Lucia Alckmin, who is in Nigeria on an official visit with her husband, Geraldo Alckmin.
The Brazilian delegation is in Abuja for the second session of the Nigeria–Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism (SDM), aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between both countries.
During the visit, both nations are expected to sign more than 30 agreements covering key sectors such as defence, agriculture, energy, and cultural exchange.
Maria Lucia Alckmin, while speaking, shared the story of a women-focused social initiative she launched in 2001 while her husband served as Governor of São Paulo. She explained that the bread-making project has empowered over 100,000 underprivileged women across 17 Brazilian states, with plans for nationwide expansion.
In her remarks, Nana Shettima praised the initiative and emphasised the cultural similarities between Nigeria and Brazil.
“Nigeria and Brazil are both known for their warmth, resilience, vibrant music, Afrobeats and Samba, love of football, and colourful festivals,” she said.
She wished Mrs Alckmin a memorable stay in Nigeria, expressing hope that the visit would leave her with lasting impressions of Nigerian hospitality.