Nigeria, Philippines Strengthen 65-Year Relations, Deepen Cooperation in Education, Trade and Technology By Raymond Enoch
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening diplomatic and economic relations with the Republic of the Philippines as both countries mark 65 years of bilateral friendship.
In a statement made available to the press by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both countries were said to have expressed commitment to sustaining the momentum of their long-standing friendship and translating diplomatic ties into tangible economic and developmental benefits.
This was disclosed during a high-level engagement in Abuja where the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, received the Ambassador of the Philippines to Nigeria, His Excellency Mersole J. Mellejor.
The meeting reviewed decades of diplomatic relations between both countries and explored new areas of cooperation aimed at expanding economic growth, education, labour mobility, and cultural exchange.
Ambassador Mellejor conveyed the goodwill of the Philippine government and congratulated the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister on her appointment, describing Nigeria as a key strategic partner in Africa. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of South-South cooperation as a framework for advancing shared development goals.
According to discussions at the meeting, Nigeria and the Philippines identified several priority sectors for collaboration, including education, skills development, information technology, business process outsourcing (BPO), tourism, maritime affairs, agriculture, manufacturing, and creative industries.
A key highlight of the engagement was the growing number of Nigerian students studying in the Philippines. The Philippine envoy revealed that about 9,000 Nigerians are currently enrolled in various institutions across the country, underscoring education as a major pillar of bilateral relations. Both countries pledged to strengthen welfare and institutional support for Nigerian students.
The Philippines also expressed interest in deepening cooperation with Nigeria in the business process outsourcing sector, noting the potential for job creation and skills transfer, especially among young people in both countries.
Trade and investment discussions further reflected optimism, with both sides noting steady growth in economic exchanges, including the Philippines’ importation of Nigerian liquefied natural gas, which contributes to its energy security.
The talks also explored opportunities in tourism, cultural diplomacy, and creative industries such as film, music, fashion, and entertainment, with both countries agreeing on the need to strengthen people-to-people connections.
Ambassador Mellejor highlighted plans for the upcoming Fourth Session of the Nigeria-Philippines Joint Commission, which is expected to review key bilateral agreements, including visa waiver arrangements for diplomatic and official passport holders and cooperation in maritime affairs.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu commended the Philippines for its achievements in education, labour mobility management, hospitality, and human capital development, while reaffirming Nigeria’s readiness to deepen cooperation across all agreed sectors.
She also welcomed growing engagement between Nigeria and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), noting an invitation for Nigeria to consider accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia as part of efforts to strengthen regional diplomacy and peaceful international relations.
