It was also an opportunity to present the letter of Congratulations on my assumption of office as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria from the Israeli Foreign Minister H.E Gideon Sa’ar.
Nigeria’s relations with Israel dates to the late 1950s through to the 1960s and early 1970s, with it’s strategic partnership with Nigeria, involving hundreds of Israeli experts and volunteers sent to help in the development and modernization of agriculture, education, medicine and technology training.
Moshe “Jerry” Beit Halevi, from Israel was Nigeria’s first football coach following independence. At the same time, hundreds of Nigerian farmers, experts, educators, academicians, students, doctors, community workers and engineers were trained in Israel.
Over fifty Israeli companies operate in Nigeria in the spheres of construction, infrastructure, hi-tech, communications and IT, agriculture and water management.
it is estimated that close to 5,000 Nigerian businesses and organizations operate in or conduct active business with Israel.
These cross-border businesses typically consist of Nigerian firms involved in agricultural exports, importing Israeli technology, and distribution; Local Nigerian ground-handling and travel companies managing annual religious pilgrimages, Nigerian innovators partnering with Israeli incubators and tech hubs.
Conversely, there are over 50 Israeli or Israeli-owned enterprises operating directly within Nigeria across construction, infrastructure, telecommunications, and agriculture.
Trade and commerce between our two nations are promoted by the Israeli Export and International Cooperation Institute, the Nigerian-Israeli Chamber of Commerce (NICC) and the Israel-Africa Chamber of Commerce.
