WITH its vibrant culture, the positive disposition of its citizens and their adaptability, Nigeria has become the “Giant of Africa,” in more ways than just sheer size of population.
The country’s strength lies in the multitude of young Nigerians who make up a major part of their country’s 180 million people. About 43 percent of them are 15 years old.
For close to 60 years, the Federal Republic of Nigeria—one of the richest countries in its continent—had, at one time, experienced the plundering of colonizers.
Notwithstanding, it has risen from the ashes, like the proverbial phoenix. Today, it is striving mightily for a brighter future. Its strength lies in its youthful manpower, and the burning desire of its citizens for sustained development.
Here in the Philippines, Nigeria’s eloquent ambassador, Adekunbi A. Sonaike-Ayodeji, is pursuing to expedite a good number of memoranda of understanding (MOU) it has signed with the government. They cover areas of critical importance for the African country, which will enable it to join the ranks of developed states in the immediate future.
These MOUs are the result of a series of Joint Commission Meetings (JCM) that took place in both countries’ capital cities in 2018.
“As ambassador, I would like to cement [our ties] by increasing bilateral relations, with more consultations between Nigeria and the Philippines,” Sonaike-Ayodeji explained.
The ambassador beamed with high hopes that these moves will further expedite positive actions, and lead toward the conclusion and signing of the MOUs on topics of mutual interests between the two countries.
She enumerated these pursuits in trade and investments, tourism, educational cooperation, youth development, as well as waivers of visas for diplomatic and official passports, among many others.
“All these areas we entered into [in our JCM],” noting that the first dialogue was held in Manila in 1985, while the second was in Nigeria’s capital of Abuja in 2012, “which took almost 27 years [to follow through],” the diplomat pointed out.
Nigeria’s highest-ranking envoy in the country said part of the negotiations was the MOU on visa waivers on the level of diplomatic and official passport. “Then, we’re also looking into a draft agreement in tourism cooperation.”
As far as education and youth developments are concerned, she said an MOU would give “the opportunity of exchange of views on cultural levels, and all other areas.”
“Then, we also have a draft agreement [to counter] illicit drug trafficking,” Sonaike-Ayodeji noted, while agreeing the illegal substance trade is a serious menace for both countries.
In other areas, the good ambassador volunteered that Manila and Abuja have already discussed their views on the exchange of prisoners, as well as on a draft agreement on mutual recognition on maritime matters.
Although current trade amounts to only $12 million, there is a steady flow of car spare parts and electronics to the African nation, while the Philippines provides them with warm bodies for their seafaring vessels.
“We believe that maritime certificates from here [in the Philippines] should be recognized by Nigeria,” she averred.
All these considered, the ambassador believes that both parties should take the JCM agreements a step further.
“Nigeria is also a coastal state that requires Filipino seafarers,” she professed, and then went on to say that many of them “have contributed to the overall maritime advantage of Nigeria, [which is] a coastal nation.”
“This involved the mutual recognition of certificates of competence: That whoever is qualified to be a seafarer in the Philippines, must also be recognized in Nigeria.”
Ayodeji added there are also more than 5,000 Filipino migrant workers in their caregiving, retail, mining, construction and oil industries, with many Philippine engineers engaged in drilling.
Nigerians have also been enrolling in our schools to pursue higher education. “In the process, we have about 7,000 Nigerians [in this country]. They are mostly students, and they are found across all the provinces.”
She said many of them are into oil and gas engineering, plus a good number into medicine, while some aspire to be mariners, “by virtue of our coastal areas.”
Oil-exporting country
THIS author queried Sonaike-Ayodeji about the previous arrangements Nigeria had in selling oil to the Philippines. “How has this progressed so far?”
“As soon as we established bilateral cooperation in 1962, the Philippines used to buy oil from Nigeria,” she said, and then paused briefly to recall why the arrangement was short-lived. (This was two years following their independence from the British in 1960.)
The envoy continued: “But I wouldn’t say [the sale stopped because of the close ties of the Philippines] to Saudi Arabia, or any of the Middle East countries,” then pointed out that she revived the matter with the Philippine government, which has opened the possibility of resuming the oil trade.
“[With regard to the] opportunity, this would also negate our ‘imbalance,’ because the $12-million trade [volume] favors the Philippines.”
Numbers may have escaped her mind on the volume of oil her country currently produces. She noted, nonetheless: “We are the fifth-largest producer of oil [in the world]. Our production is not only in crude oil, but we also sell refined oil products and distribute them to our neighboring countries.”
‘Sunny culture’
AFTER discussing her country’s economy, the diplomat paid special attention to her country’s rich cultural heritage to humanity, which is now undergoing renewed international recognition.
Sonaike-Ayodeji is convinced that both Nigeria and the Philippines should proceed with the youth-exchange programs, “as I also believe I’m going to build into our relations through cultural exchanges.”
“So,” she proceeded, “an exchange of practices and cultural events have always been some of the things that we Nigerians have been looking out for.”
The African envoy, who had previous postings in the United Nations, Lebanon and Ghana prior to the Philippines in 2017, said Nigeria has always had a “sunny culture,” as reflected in the myriad of ways it has displayed their arts and crafts, including their wardrobe and attire.
“We also have lots of poetry and folklore. Our young ones know where we are coming from, and we know who we are.”
After Hollywood and “Bollywood,” Nigeria is the third-largest movie-producing country in the world. Their film industry contributes about 5 percent to the national gross domestic product.
In the performing arts, the African republic has scores of international singers, rappers and movie stars.
The ambassador is mighty proud of their national football team, the “Super Eagles,” who are the three-time “Africa Cup of Nations” winners. They are ranked fifth in the Fifa rankings—the highest position ever achieved by an African football (soccer) team.
Sonaike-Ayodeji has witnessed many cultural activities in the Philippines, but admitted that little is being done to promote Nigeria’s cultural contributions to the world.
“Not much has been [explained] concerning Africa. A lot of Filipinos believe that Africa [is just] one or two countries.”
“We are actually talking about 53 countries. Africa is the second-largest continent in the world, both by land area and population,” she explained.
(Writer’s note: There are actually 54 countries the United Nations recognizes in Africa, with the addition of the Republic of Benin as a separate country after its independence from France in 1960.)
At home in PHL
“WHAT is your impression of my country and our people?” this reporter inquired.
The ambassador flashed a wide smile and declared: “I feel at home [here]. I’m an African and a Nigerian, but [I find] Filipinos are more of the same,” then noted that Nigerians also have high regard for close family ties.
“And, the weather in the Philippines is more like in Nigeria. Both have rainy and dry seasons.”
“Coming here does not require a change in wardrobe. It’s been as good as home,” Sonaike-Ayodeji laughed as she stated this fact.
The envoy praised the Filipinos’ warmth: “As a friend, you are willing to make us feel comfortable; willing to volunteer, to look for somebody else who could give you more details. There’s no attitude, [but rather, a sense of] willingness…”
“Some of your compatriots have found love [among us], with Filipinas marrying many Nigerian nationals,” she noted.
“When you are talking about Nigeria,” the Nigerian envoy concluded, “you’re also talking about the Philippines. We’re both developing countries.”
Image credits: Jimbo Albano, Recto Mercene