3 months ago
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President Bola Tinubu encouraged the newly appointed Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria, Carlos Jose Areias, to make the creation of direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil a top priority.
While receiving the Letter of Credence from the Brazilian Ambassador, President Tinubu reaffirmed his February discussions with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva regarding the issue during the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Thursday, President Tinubu emphasised Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Brazil.
The President, as contained in the statement, also welcomed Brazil’s leadership of the G20 in 2024, expressing a desire to collaborate closely on global issues of mutual interest.
‘’We have a long history of bilateral and cultural relations with Brazil. You must see Nigeria as your second home and explore the abundant economic opportunities in the country.
‘’I have been talking to some of my Brazilian friends concerning the prospects of investing in dairy farming in Nigeria. We are eager to push these investments forward.
‘’In my recent discussions with President Lula, we agreed to energize the economic development of our two countries, and I look forward to continuing that collaboration.”
In his remarks, as stated in the release, Ambassador Areias mentioned that President Lula was eager to welcome President Tinubu to the G20 Leaders’ Summit on November 18 and 19, 2024, in Rio de Janeiro.
He also extended President Lula’s invitation for Nigeria to join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty.
‘’I will do whatever I can to improve Brazil-Nigeria relations. Ten years ago, the volume of trade between our two countries was in the region of $10bn, and I will work hard to improve on the number.
‘’Africa is top priority for President Lula and Nigeria is the most important country for us,” the envoy said.
In a similar event, President Tinubu accepted the Letter of Credence from Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Vice-Admiral Seth Amoama (retd.).
The statement noted that the President commended Ghana for its strong engagement in ECOWAS and reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to deepening its ties with the West African country.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has called on Chinese media outlets to join forces with Nigeria and other international partners in the fight against fake news and misinformation.
The minister made this appeal on Thursday, during the unveiling of a television documentary titled “Traverse China with Me” at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja.
The documentary is a collaborative effort between the Nigerian Television Authority and the China Media Group.
Idris, in a statement released by the Deputy Director of Press, Suleiman Haruna, pointed out the essential role of media in guiding society, promoting mutual understanding, and contributing to significant development.
He stressed that the partnership between Nigerian and Chinese media through this documentary is aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations by enhancing cultural and language exchange.
“The collaboration will have a positive impact on social affairs, economic development, and cultural advancement,” the Minister stated, praising the efforts of both CMG and NTA in delivering accurate news and meaningful programming.
He also underscored the importance of balanced reporting, particularly in showcasing progress and achievements that inspire hope for future growth.
“The Minister indicated that the documentary, which aims to strengthen the relationship between Nigerian television stations and the Chinese media, is part of efforts to enhance the ties between the people of Nigeria and China through cultural and language exchange and modern communication channels available in both countries.
“The Minister commended the authorities of CMG and the NTA for their efforts in providing accurate news and meaningful programs for the advancement of both countries. He said the collaboration will positively impact social affairs, economic development, and cultural advancement.
“He restated the need for balance in news reporting, especially in highlighting progress and achievements and producing programs that inspire hope for future growth,” the statement read in part.
Idris pointed out that Nigeria’s youth population is vibrant and hardworking, striving to seize opportunities despite the challenges they face.
However, he noted that these challenges are often exacerbated by the spread of fake news and misinformation, which undermines trust between the government and its citizens.
The Minister urged Chinese media outlets to collaborate with Nigerian and international counterparts to curb the negative trend of fake news.
He also called on CMG to expand its media presence in Nigeria by incorporating local languages such as Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, and Pidgin, which would help convey messages more effectively and create employment and training opportunities for Nigerians.
“He called on Chinese media outlets to join Nigeria and collaborate with international counterparts to end the negative trend and ensure reliability and credibility in the spread of information.
“The Minister also called on CMG to expand its media presence in Nigeria by incorporating more languages including Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, and Pidgin to convey messages and provide employment opportunities and training for Nigerians,” the statement added.
Speaking earlier, the Director for the Hausa language at CMG, Kande Gao, highlighted the close relationship between China and Nigeria, noting that both nations share a common destiny.
She praised the collaborative efforts that led to the creation of “Traverse China with Me,” noting that the program has become particularly popular in Hausa-speaking areas of Nigeria.
