Nigeria and Hungary Sign MoU on Educational Cooperation

Nigeria and Hungary have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), on educational cooperation with Hungary.

The Honourable Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu signed on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria while Hungarian Ambassador to Nigeria, Professor Gabor Ternak signed on behalf of the Hungarian People’s Republic.

Through the MoU, Hungary will offer 50 scholarships annually to Nigerian students in the fields of Agriculture and Sciences in its Higher Institutions of learning.

Nigeria and Hungary education collaboration dated back to 1973 when both countries entered into agreement on Cultural and Scientific Cooperation.

USA & Enugu State Explore Trading Opportunities and Expansion

The Foreign Commercial Service of the United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria concluded a four-day outreach (April 4-7) to Enugu State that focused on expanding commercial ties between the U.S. and Nigeria, especially the South Eastern geo-political zone.

During the outreach, a team of trade and commercial specialists from the U.S. Mission to Nigeria, led by Commercial Counselor Brent Omdahl, held meetings with Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, state commissioners, and other senior Cabinet-level officials on trade opportunities which will contribute to mutual prosperity and job growth for both countries.

Governor Ugwuanyi and Commercial Counselor Omdahl discussed U.S. investments in Enugu State, including the on-going $700 million Motir DuSable solar plant project in the Nachi community of Udi local government area. At full capacity, the solar plant will add 300 Megawatts to the national grid.

While in Enugu State, the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service participated in the 28th Enugu International Trade fair. The Foreign Commercial Service also hosted leading regional business owners at a workshop entitled: “Networking with the USA Business Summit and Conference – Enugu 2017”.

The Foreign Commercial Service of the U.S. government works to promote the expansion of U.S. trade and investment to Nigeria through support of business partnerships between American and Nigerian companies.

UN Security Council Adopts 1st Resolution on Boko Haram Crisis

The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted its first resolution – 2349 (2017) addressing Boko Haram’s presence in the Lake Chad Basin towards protecting civilians affected by terrorism.

The resolution followed a report of its mission to the region earlier this month.

The Council strongly condemned all terrorist attacks, violations of international humanitarian law and human rights abuses by Boko Haram and Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Region. The UN body also condemned killings, abductions, child, early and forced marriages, rape, sexual slavery and the increasing use of girls as suicide bombers by the Boko Haram terrorists.

The Council encouraged governments to enhance regional military cooperation, and to move “vigorously and decisively” to cut funding flows to individuals, groups, undertakings and entities on the ISIL and Al-Qaida Sanctions List, which includes Boko Haram.
It urged Lake Chad Basin Governments to implement consistent policies to promote defections from Boko Haram and ISIL, to deradicalize and reintegrate those who had already defected and to ensure there was no impunity for those responsible for terrorist attacks. On the humanitarian front, the Council urged all parties to the conflict to ensure respect for and protection of humanitarian personnel, and to facilitate safe, timely and unhindered access for humanitarian organizations to deliver aid.