Abbas Pushes For Stronger Nigeria-Cuba Ties

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen has called for establishing parliamentary diplomacy to fast-track frameworks for aesculapian exchanges, world recognition, associated research, and targeted investments betwixt Nigeria and Cuba.

He emphasised, however, that specified parliamentary diplomacy indispensable pb to tangible outcomes, including the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), ratified agreements, and funded programmes.
Speaker Tajudeen made the remarks successful Abuja connected Sunday portion receiving a Cuban delegation led by Hon. Fernando González Llort, a nationalist leader of Cuba, subordinate of the National Assembly of the People’s Power of Cuba (ANPP), and President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP).

The Speaker, represented by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu praised the diplomatic ties betwixt the 2 countries and called for the strengthening of bilateral relations.

He outlined strategical absorption areas, including parliamentary and wellness diplomacy, commercialized and culture, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals, noting that implementing these would assistance found a robust parliamentary partnership.

“Nigeria’s overseas policy, guided by the principles of African solidarity and practice crossed the Global South, prioritises partnerships that beforehand peace, development, and shared prosperity. The 10th Assembly is committed to advancing this done laws that alteration economical cooperation, taste exchange, and planetary dialogue.

“We besides recognise Cuba’s bequest of parliamentary solidarity — from decolonisation struggles to calls for planetary equity. It is some strategical and motivation to formalise collaboration wherever our legislatures tin present done law-making, organization strengthening, and parliamentary diplomacy that yields tangible benefits for our peoples.

“Our tools are laws, oversight, and convening power. The Nigeria–Cuba Parliamentary Friendship Group provides a level to fast-track frameworks for aesculapian exchanges, world recognition, associated research, and targeted investments. Parliamentary diplomacy indispensable output existent outputs: MoUs, ratified agreements, and funded programmes.”

The Speaker noted that bilateral commercialized betwixt the 2 nations remains minimal. According to UN Comtrade reports, Nigeria’s imports from Cuba amounted to conscionable US$2,380 successful 2024.

“Yet our taste ties tally heavy — successful music, sports, and literature. Let america person this affinity into opportunities for artisans, agri-entrepreneurs, and the originative industries.”

On education, skills, and younker exchange, helium stressed the value of equipping Nigeria’s increasing younker colonisation with 21st-century skills.

“Scholarships successful Cuba, paired with Nigerian internships and reciprocal placements, tin nutrient professionals fluent successful planetary cooperation.”

Tajudeen besides praised Cuba’s globally recognised healthcare system: “Cuba’s grounds is proven — implicit 1,200 doctors successful 21 ‘Henry Reeve’ brigades and tens of thousands inactive deployed worldwide. Joint training, wellness expertise exchanges, and co-developed treatments tin fortify Nigeria’s wellness systems.”

He highlighted Nigeria’s absorption connected affordable medicines and vaccine accumulation capacity, suggesting that Cuban expertise — including processing the Abdala COVID-19 vaccine (92% effectual against terrible illness successful published studies) — presents a invaluable accidental for collaboration.

“Partnerships successful research, exertion transfer, and aviator manufacturing tin boost vaccine production, support nationalist health, and make jobs portion advancing Africa’s self-sufficiency.”

The Speaker emphasised that Nigeria views the narration arsenic a balanced exchange, not a one-sided benefit.

“We worth Cuba’s achievements successful health, biotechnology, and education. Likewise, Cuba tin payment from Nigeria’s 200 million-strong market, affluent earthy resources, vibrant originative industries, and continental leadership.

“From vigor and agriculture to pharmaceuticals, tourism, sports, and culture, the opportunities are divers and compelling. This is existent reciprocity: Cuba brings tested knowledge, Nigeria offers standard and accidental — and together, we tin uplift our peoples and the wider Global South.”

Calling for meaningful follow-through, helium urged the sojourn to statesman a structured and impactful concern betwixt the Nigerian Parliament and Cuba’s National Assembly.

“The way up requires candid conversations connected capacity, financing, and communal benefit. Our agreements indispensable warrant exertion transfer, just intelligence spot protection, and section worth chains that construe into jobs, clinics, and st...