President Bola Tinubu, along with a delegation of eight Ministers and heads of agencies, is set to leave Abuja on Thursday for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. They will be attending the inaugural Saudi-Africa Summit, which is scheduled to be held in Riyadh on November 10, 2023.
In a statement titled ‘President Tinubu’s Participation in Saudi-Africa Summit Confirmed,’ the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this information on Wednesday.
According to Ngelale, the President will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman; Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu; as well as the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu.
Others are the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar; and the newly-appointed Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Jalal Arabi.
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At the Saudi-Africa Summit, the President will ‘underscore Nigeria’s commitment to attracting more Foreign Direct Investment and expanding business partnerships, which are strongly reinforced by his administration’s ongoing domestic economic reforms,’ the statement read in part.
The Saudi-Africa Summit will be a platform for discussions focused on promoting collaborative efforts, strengthening political alignment, tackling regional security challenges, fostering economic growth through research and local innovation in energy solutions, and fostering cross-sector investment partnerships.
President Tinubu’s visit to Saudi Arabia is his ninth international journey in the six months since taking office. He has previously undertaken official engagements in France (twice), the United Kingdom, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Benin Republic, India, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States of America.
President Tinubu is expected to return to Abuja after the conclusion of the Summit.