Nigeria’s Ambassador to Israel, with concurrent accreditation to Cyprus, Nkechi Ufochukwu, has formally commenced her diplomatic assignment in Cyprus after presenting her Letters of Credence to President Nikos Christodoulides.
The Nigerian Embassy in Israel disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, noting that the ceremony was held on Friday at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia in accordance with diplomatic protocol.
The presentation formally confirmed Ufochukwu’s appointment as Nigeria’s principal envoy to Cyprus.
During the ceremony, the ambassador conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill message to Christodoulides and pledged to strengthen diplomatic and bilateral relations between Nigeria and Cyprus throughout her tenure.
In his response, Christodoulides welcomed Ufochukwu and reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between the two countries.
He noted that Nigeria and Cyprus share historical experiences, common principles and enduring connections between their peoples, which have helped sustain their cordial relations.
The Cypriot president also acknowledged Nigeria’s strategic importance in West Africa and across the African continent, particularly its contributions to regional dialogue, cooperation, integration and stability.
He assured the Nigerian envoy of his government’s readiness to collaborate with Abuja in deepening diplomatic ties and expanding cooperation in areas of shared interest.
The areas identified include economic relations, trade and investment, education, political dialogue, and efforts to address common challenges through bilateral and multilateral engagement.
The presentation of Letters of Credence is a formal diplomatic procedure through which an ambassador is accredited to represent their country in a host nation. It also establishes an official channel of communication between the governments in Abuja and Nicosia.
Nigeria’s Ambassador Ufochukwu presents letters of credence to Cyprus president