German President Steinmeier visits Nigeria

Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is expected to arrive in Nigeria Wednesday on a two-visit to President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.

According to the statement, Mr Steinmeier would visit the president of the Commission of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Alieu Omar Touray, before heading to Lagos to meet business representatives and stakeholders in the culture and Civil society sector.

It added that the German president would then proceed to Lagos to engage with business representatives, visit a start-up hub, and meet with members of Nigeria’s culture sector and civil society.

“The German president will further meet with Dr. Nike Okundaye, popularly known as Mama Nike, of the Nike Art Gallery, and the legendary author and Nobel Laureate for Literature, Prof. Wole Soyinka.

“There will also be an opportunity to be part of a tour of the city of Lagos to gain insights into the urban development of megacity Lagos, including environmental and social challenges,” the German embassy stated.

Mr Steinmeier will be accompanied by a business delegation of CEOs and high-ranking board members of some of Germany’s most successful companies in IT, high-tech and energy.

The scheduled visit followed both leaders’ meeting at the 18th G20 Summit in India, where Mr Steinmeier said to Mr Tinubu: “We acknowledge the business-friendly reforms you have put in place. I am happy to inform you of my desire to visit you in Nigeria in October, which will allow us to carry forward these initiatives.”

Stating that both countries “share striking commonalities, including being the strongest economy and the most populous country on their respective continents,” the German embassy said Mr Steinmeier’s visit would be the third exchange between both countries on the level of head of state or government since Mr Tinubu’s inauguration.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Nigeria in October 2023, and Mr Tinubu visited Germany in November 2023.