President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, arrived Luanda, Angola, today, as the leader of Nigeria’s delegation to the 147th IPU Assembly.
Senator Akpabio was accompanied on the trip by four senators and five members of the House of Representatives.
He was received on arrival at the Luanda International Airport by the Nigerian Ambassador to Angola, H.E. Professor Monique Oshame Ekpong and top officials of the Angolan Government, led by Joao Diogo Gaspar, Deputy Secretary, UIP Angola.
This was contained in a statement by the Special Assistant (Media/Communication) to the Senate President, Anietie Ekong.
It was stated in the statement that, on arrival, Senator Akpabio led Nigeria’s delegation to the first meeting of The African Group at the IPU Assembly.
Senator Akpabio said he was delighted to attend the IPU Assembly hosted by Angola and commended the Angolan Government for a good bilateral relations with Nigeria.
According to the Senate President, “it would have been a disservice to Africa if Nigeria did not have a strong delegation at the IPU.
“Our presence here is to ensure that our bilateral relationship is strengthened.
“With our presence, we can forge a strong bilateral parliamentary relationship for the interest of our nations,” he said.
The statement quoted Mr Gaspar as saying that Angola was honoured by the presence of the President of the Nigerian Senate.
Gaspar noted that Akpabio’s attendance at the IPU Assembly with the Nigerian delegation would foster good relations, not only between Nigeria and Angola but among African countries to reach consensus on issues affecting the continent.
The 147th IPU Assembly, holding in Luanda, Angola, from 21 to 27 October, 2023, is hosted by the National Assembly of Angola.
The IPU Assembly will provide a platform for parliamentarians, partner organizations and experts to share good practice and commit to the overall theme of Parliamentary action for peace, justice and strong institutions.
The theme is closely linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions, a key enabler of the entire development agenda.
The Assembly will consider actions to strengthen trust between people and governance structures, to make public institutions more effective, accountable and representative.
It will also seek to better equip parliaments to address the multiple interconnected geopolitical, economic and environmental crises facing the world.
