Colombia’s Vice President, Francia Márquez, touched down in Abuja on Saturday for a three-day official visit aimed at strengthening ties between her country and Nigeria.
She arrived with her husband, Rafael Yerney Pinillo Ocoró, and was welcomed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by senior Nigerian officials, including the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, and Minister of State for the FCT, Mariya Mahmud Bunkure.
The visit, according to the office of Vice President Kashim Shettima, is designed to expand diplomatic and economic cooperation between both nations. Discussions will cover a wide range of sectors such as governance, trade, agriculture, security, energy, and education.
Márquez is accompanied by top government officials, cabinet members, and private sector leaders from Colombia who are scheduled to hold engagements with their Nigerian counterparts. A number of agreements are expected to be signed, including Memoranda of Understanding in areas like women empowerment, aviation, agriculture, manufacturing, culture, and trade.
Highlights of the three-day program include a plenary session with Vice President Shettima, a Nigeria-Colombia Business Forum, bilateral meetings at government level, and sector-focused side events. The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment will also host high-level business discussions, while a summit on Artificial Intelligence is lined up as part of the visit.
The engagement marks another step in efforts by both countries to boost partnership and open fresh opportunities for collaboration across multiple fields.
