German Chancellor Scholz visits Nigeria Oct 29

The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Olaf Scholz, will visit Nigeria on the 29th and 30th of October 2023.

According to a statement from the Embassy of Germany in Nigeria, the visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations between Germany and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This will be the first visit of a head of government to Nigeria since the inauguration of the new government.

The statement reads: “With diplomatic relations spanning over 60 years, Germany and Nigeria have a warm and longstanding relationship. They are natural partners, as both are the strongest economy and the most populous country on their respective continents. This visit intends to accentuate Germany’s appreciation for the strong partnership over the years and underline the importance the German government places on Nigeria’s role in the region and globally.

According to the embassy, Chancellor Scholz will meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and ECOWAS Commission President, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, in Abuja. He will then proceed to Lagos, where he will open a Nigeria-German Business Conference organised by the Nigerian-German Chamber of Commerce. While in Lagos, he will interface with representatives of Nigerian civil society as well as with Nigerian start-up entrepreneurs. Along with the delegation, Chancellor Scholz will take part in a tour of the city of Lagos to gain insights into the challenges and opportunities presented by a megacity such as Lagos.

According to the embassy, Chancellor Scholz will be accompanied by a delegation of high-ranking German business people, including CEOs of some of the highest-valued German companies, as well as a cultural delegation, “because the visit is also geared at intensifying relations in the economic and cultural sectors and exploring opportunities for investment in Nigeria.”