Nigeria, Cyprus seek expanded trade, investment cooperation

Nigeria and Cyprus have expressed readiness to expand trade, investment and educational cooperation as both countries seek to strengthen bilateral relations and explore new areas of mutual interest.

The commitment followed the presentation of Letters of Credence by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Israel, with concurrent accreditation to Cyprus, Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu, to the Cypriot President, Nikos Christodoulides, on Friday at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia.

During the ceremony, Ufochukwu conveyed the greetings of President Bola Tinubu to Christodoulides and expressed her commitment to strengthening relations between the two countries throughout her tour of duty.

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In his remarks, the Cypriot president welcomed the Nigerian envoy and reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between Cyprus and Nigeria, which he attributed to their shared historical experiences, common principles and enduring ties between their peoples.

Christodoulides acknowledged Nigeria’s significant role in West Africa and across the African continent, particularly its contributions to regional dialogue, cooperation, integration and stability.

He assured that the Cypriot government was ready to work closely with Nigeria to advance bilateral relations in areas of mutual interest and address common challenges through bilateral and multilateral engagements.

The president identified the economy, trade and investment, education, and political dialogue as key areas in which both countries could deepen cooperation.

The presentation of credentials formally authorises Ufochukwu to represent Nigeria in Cyprus and serve as an official channel of communication between the governments of both countries.

The renewed diplomatic engagement is expected to provide a platform for exploring economic opportunities, strengthening educational exchanges and improving engagement with Nigerians living in Cyprus.

The ceremony was attended by senior Cypriot government officials and members of the Nigerian diplomatic mission.

Ufochukwu is expected to begin engagements with Cypriot government officials, business leaders and members of the Nigerian community as part of efforts to translate the goodwill expressed at the ceremony into practical outcomes for both countries.