President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, were in Doha on Sunday to witness the signing of important agreements between their countries. These agreements will help both nations work together in areas like education, business development, investment, empowering young people, mining, tourism, and sports.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, shared this information on Sunday.
He mentioned that before the signing ceremony at the Qatar Presidential Palace, President Tinubu assured his host that Nigeria is ready to welcome investors. He also highlighted the ongoing reforms in Nigeria that support innovation, good returns on investments, and multiculturalism.
“Our greatest strength is our people. Our strength lies in the capacity of Nigerian youths. They have energy, talent, and self-belief. They are quality partners for the Qatari industry. They are educated and reliable, and they are proactively seeking to add value wherever they are. A few cannot give a bad name to the many. Nigerian youths are ready to be unleashed for the mutual benefit of both nations.
“We have seen clearly the rapid pace and thorough quality of Qatar’s development process. It is impossible not to be moved by what you have accomplished. The leadership in the country has proven its mettle, and we are here to gain deeper insight.
“There is nowhere in the world where you will find return on investment at the level of what you will see in Nigeria. A massive market of over 200 million skilled Nigerians, always industrious and ready to work.
“We face some short-term turbulence at the moment, but we have a government today that reflects the dynamism and talent of the Nigerian people. We are implementing the right solutions. This team works collaboratively with each other and our partners. Nigeria is ready for serious business,” the President stated.
The Emir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, highlighted that Qatar welcomes President Tinubu’s investment efforts. He mentioned his visit to Nigeria in 2019, expressing his belief in Nigeria’s significance as a key ally both independently and within the region.
“I have no doubt about the great capacity of the Nigerian people. Everywhere in the world, they are known for their brilliance and hard work. We only need to ensure that this is happening inside of Nigeria rather than outside. The investments we have made around the world have been very fruitful. This is because we take our time and study opportunities before we invest the common wealth of our people. It is not my money. The money we invest belongs to the future generations of Qatar.
“Mr. President, I am very encouraged by your actions and your passion to create new opportunities. We are very open to this, and follow-up is everything at this point. The will is there for both of us, but we must follow up. I will send a team of officials to Nigeria after Ramadan, and we will advance discussions on what some of the actionable investment opportunities are,” the Qatari leader said.
President Tinubu has appointed Mr. Wale Edun, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, as the leader of the government team that will work with Qatari authorities on identifying and implementing investments in the future.
Additionally, during the discussions, President Tinubu allowed Dr. Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, to give a presentation to the Emir. Dr. Alake discussed the high-quality minerals, such as lithium, that can be found in Nigeria and highlighted the upcoming opportunities for local mineral processing and value-added industries in the sector.
After the bilateral talks, the two leaders had a private meeting before moving on to sign seven agreements covering various sectors.
The seven agreements include: cooperation in education; regulations for the employment of workers with the Qatari government; establishment of a joint business council between the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA); as well as cooperation in youth and sports.
The other agreements are: cooperation in the field of tourism and business events, and a memorandum of understanding combating illicit trade in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
The documents were signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and relevant officials in the Government of the State of Qatar, Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, Minister of Education and Higher Education; Dr. Ahmad Hassen Al-Hammadi, Secretary General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Sheikh Khalifa Bin Jassim Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry (QCCI), and Abdullah bin Khalaf bin Hattab Al Kaabi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior (MOI).
Nigerian ministers who were present at the ceremony were: Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake; Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate; Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite; and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr. Ekperipe Ekpo.
Also at the meeting were the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and Special Adviser on Energy, Mrs. Olu Verheijen.
