Nigeria and the Organization of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a Dialogue Mechanism on Technical Cooperation, which also involves establishment of the OACPS Secretariat in Nigeria.
The MoU was signed in Abuja by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, on behalf of the Nigerian government while Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, Secretary General of OACPS signed on behalf of his organization in a brief ceremony held in the Nigerian capital, Abuja recently.
In his opening remarks, Onyeama lauded the excellent level of cooperation between Nigeria and OACPS, stressing that the objective of the MoU is to strengthen this relationship, even as he lauded the establishment of the OACPS Secretariat within Nigeria.
He further stated that Nigeria will look forward for the framework that will strengthen this relationship and hoped that the political will is there to boost its realization. He promised Nigeria’s effort to fast track the process of putting in place mechanisms for the hosting of the Secretariat in Nigeria.
The Secretary General of OACPS Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikodi in his speech noted that the signing of the MoU withhas demonstrated Nigeria’s interest and commitment on the South-South cooperation. He also expressed his happiness that Nigeria has agreed to host the Secretariat.
According to Chikodi, OACPS will continue to hope and count on the support of Nigeria in strengthening this relationship. He also noted that the signing of the MoU and the Symposium on Diaspora that took place in Nigeria last week are some of the measures being put in place to boost south south cooperation that signified a stronger commitment of member States to this relationship.
He further stated that the MoU between Nigeria and the OACPS is a reaffirmation of the greatness that Nigeria represents not just to Africa but to the rest of the world.
