President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday in Abuja pledged that Nigeria will remain at the forefront of efforts to promote greater economic and trade relations between Africa and South America.
Speaking at an audience with Venezuela’s outgoing Ambassador to Nigeria, Enrique Fernando Arundell, President Jonathan declared that Nigeria remains fully committed to developing the Africa-South America Summit into a more productive platform for the expansion of areas of cooperation between the two continents.
Recalling his interactions with late President Hugo Chavez at the 2nd Africa-South America Summit at Margarita, Venezuela in 2009, President Jonathan said that it was apparent that the late Venezuelan leader was also very committed to establishing mutually-beneficial economic relations between Africa and South America.
Expressing the belief that President Nicholas Maduro will follow late President Chavez’s footsteps in this regard, President Jonathan said that Nigeria was ready to work with him and other Heads of State and Government to “maximally exploit” the potentials for mutual economic benefit inherent in closer ties between Africa and South America.
The President praised Mr. Arundell’s efforts to enhance the cordial relations between Nigeria and Venezuela.
“Thank you for the services you have rendered here. You have done wonderfully well. We will always remember you and your contributions to development in our country,” he told the outgoing Ambassador.