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By Stella Odueme
Nigeria has urged the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to strengthen its interventions in Africa while sustaining collective efforts towards peace and a lasting resolution of the Palestinian question.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, made the call in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, while presenting Nigeria’s statement at the 23rd Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, the Special Assistant, Media and Strategic Communication, Elesho Richard, said in a statement on Friday.
Enikanolaiye reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the OIC, describing the organisation as an important platform for solidarity, peace, development and the advancement of the collective interests of its member states.
He congratulated the newly elected OIC Secretary-General, H.E. Ismaïl Ould Cheikh Ahmed, and pledged Nigeria’s cooperation and support for his administration.
The minister also commended the outgoing Secretary-General, H.E. Hissein Brahim Taha, for his tenure and contributions to the organisation.
He called for greater visibility of OIC programmes and projects in Nigeria and advocated increased opportunities for qualified Nigerians to serve within the OIC Secretariat and other institutions of the organisation.
On the Palestinian crisis, Enikanolaiye reiterated Nigeria’s support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He called for the protection of civilians in Gaza, unhindered humanitarian assistance and an enduring cessation of hostilities, while opposing forced displacement, annexation and actions that could alter the demographic, territorial or legal character of the occupied Palestinian territories.
The minister also urged the OIC to devote greater attention to Africa’s security and development challenges, particularly in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel.
He advocated stronger OIC-AU cooperation in areas including counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance, food and energy security, trade, investment, education, youth empowerment, climate change and infrastructure.
As part of Nigeria’s efforts to deepen cooperation, he proposed the establishment of a Nigeria-OIC Working Group on Humanitarian Affairs to address insecurity and humanitarian challenges in the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel region.
Enikanolaiye further called for a shift from general expressions of solidarity to practical and measurable development interventions, particularly in vocational training, women empowerment, healthcare, youth development and cultural cooperation.
On the sidelines of the OIC meeting, the minister held bilateral talks with Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, H.E. Waleed Al-Khuraiji.
The discussions focused on strengthening Nigeria-Saudi cooperation in trade, investment, security and the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims.
He also met Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mohammed Rahman Swaray, with both sides discussing African solidarity, South-South cooperation, regional security, economic integration and coordination of African positions at multilateral forums.
The minister separately met the Chairman of the Saudi-Nigerian Business Council, Engr. Sultan Bin Mahdi Al Dabbara, to explore opportunities for expanded business-to-business partnerships between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
Enikanolaiye called for greater unity, consensus and practical action within the OIC, saying these were essential to maintaining the organisation’s relevance in the emerging global order.
He appreciated the Government and people of Saudi Arabia and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for hosting the session and providing hospitality to participating delegations.