The three days visit of the Director-General to Nigeria from the 10th -12th of September, 2013, was considered an avenue to renew collaboration between UNESCO and Nigeria, consulting with Government Ministries and Institutions working in the areas of mandates of the Organization, especially the issue of the reactivation and effective functioning of the Nigeria-UNESCO Special Plan of Cooperation particularly the Science and Culture Components of the Plan as well as strengthening and staffing of the UNESCO Abuja Office.
The UNESCO Delegation, comprised of the Director-General, Ms. Irina Bokova; Mr. Hans d’Orville, the Assistant Director-General of Bureau of Strategic Planning, ADG (BSP); Ms. Ben Barka Lalla A., Assistant Director-General, Africa Department, ADG (Africa), and Ms. Robertine Raonimahary, Director (Division of Cooperation with Member States).
The Delegation was warmly received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by the Honourable Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayattu Ahmed Rufa’i, OON and Mrs. Mariam Y. Katagum, Ambassador/Permanent Delegate of Nigeria to UNESCO, Professor Hassana Alidou, Director of UNESCO Abuja Regional Office, Director of UNESCO Dakar Office (BREDA), Directors from the Federal Ministry of Education, and relevant Senior Government Officials.
The Director- General, during her visit, made courtesy calls to Mr. Vice President, His Excellency, Architect Namandi Sambo at the Presidential Villa, the Honourable Minister of Education, and the Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and had a meeting with the relevant line Ministers in the Organization’s Areas of competence as well as the Leaders of the National Parliamentarians.
The official opening of the UNESCO Abuja Multi-sector Regional Office for the West Africa region also marked the visit.
