Nigeria and Colombia have moved closer to deepening their diplomatic and economic ties following the official visit of the Colombian Vice President, Mrs. Francia Márquez, to Abuja. Mrs. Márquez, accompanied by her spouse, Mr. Rafael Yerney Pinillo Ocoró, cabinet ministers, senior officials, and business leaders, arrived in Nigeria on Saturday for a three-day working visit aimed at fostering stronger bilateral cooperation.
Speaking during a gala dinner held in her honour on Sunday night at the Presidential Villa, Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, described the visit as historic and a gateway to a new chapter in the relationship between both nations. He noted that Mrs. Márquez’s presence marked a new dawn in political, economic, and cultural cooperation.
According to Shettima, “This is why this historic visit and tomorrow’s engagements will be the gateway to a new chapter. More than ever, Nigeria is inspired to plant the seeds of trust, water them with dialogue, and nurture them into fruits of prosperity that our children and grandchildren shall one day harvest.”
The Vice President emphasized that Nigeria and Colombia share a bond that goes beyond geography, stressing that the countries have been partners for over 51 years. “We are bound not only by the ties of diplomacy but also by the deeper call of shared humanity. We have watched each other across oceans, we have spoken through third countries, and yet our hearts have always known that the distance between us is only geography,” he said.
Shettima further conveyed the goodwill of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian people, affirming that the bilateral engagements were anchored on shared destinies. He later raised a toast to stronger relations, praying that the “historic visit would yield the fruits earnestly desired by both countries.”
On her part, the Colombian Vice President, Mrs. Márquez, described her visit to Nigeria as strategic and historic, while underlining the values and heritage shared between Colombia and Nigeria. She explained that as a woman of African descent, her mission was to strengthen ties in areas including social justice, peace, tourism, health, education, culture, and trade.
She also pledged that Colombia would leverage its influence in South America to boost trade relations between Africa and her region, while ensuring closer diplomatic cooperation between Bogotá and Abuja. In her remarks, she expressed her country’s condolences over the passing of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The visit is aimed at improving ties between the two countries in the areas of social justice, peace, tourism, health, culture, education, among others,” Mrs. Márquez stated.
Earlier, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, highlighted that the dinner was held to celebrate the Colombian Vice President’s symbolic homecoming and to rekindle the longstanding friendship between both nations.
According to Hadejia, both countries share unique values and potentials that, if fully harnessed, would positively impact several sectors of their economies. He explained that the dinner also created an avenue to showcase and celebrate the richness of the cultures of Nigeria and Colombia, while emphasizing that their diplomacy is not limited to policies alone but extends to cultural exchange through arts, music, and cuisine.
“The gala dinner was a celebration of friendship and partnership between both countries, and an opportunity to explore the richness of our shared cultures,” he said.
The gala was attended by Nigerian ministers, top government officials, and members of the Colombian delegation.
At the heart of the engagements is a push to deepen political cooperation, expand economic ventures, and foster people-to-people exchanges that will benefit both Nigerians and Colombians in the years to come.