German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier Begins Official Visit To Nigeria

President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, arrived in Nigeria on Tuesday night to commence a three-day official visit. He was received at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, by Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The visit highlights the strong ties between Nigeria and Germany, as well as Germany’s appreciation for Nigeria’s strategic importance. During his stay, Steinmeier is expected to meet with President Bola Tinubu and the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Alieu Omar Touray.

The German President will also visit Lagos, where he plans to engage with business leaders, visit a start-up hub, and meet with representatives from Nigeria’s cultural and civil society sectors.

A statement from the German Embassy noted the high frequency of recent bilateral exchanges, including visits by Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Nigeria in October 2023 and President Tinubu’s trip to Germany in November 2023. The embassy described the relationship as a strategic partnership, underscoring shared attributes as the strongest economies and most populous nations on their respective continents.

Steinmeier is accompanied by a business delegation comprising CEOs and senior executives from leading German companies in IT, high-tech, and energy, reflecting Germany’s growing interest in Nigerian investment opportunities.

During his visit, he will meet prominent Nigerian figures, including Dr. Nike Okundaye of Nike Art Gallery and Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, among others.