The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday hosted a delegation from the National Defence College of the Ugandan Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) in Abuja, as part of an official study tour aimed at strengthening defence cooperation and regional collaboration between Nigeria and Uganda.
The visit, held at the Ministry’s headquarters, highlighted growing bilateral relations between both countries in the areas of security, diplomacy, institutional capacity development, and regional peacebuilding.
The Ugandan delegation was received by senior officials of the Ministry led by Ambassador Musa Sani Nuhu, Director of Policy Research and Statistics Department, Ambassador Ali Gombe, Director of African Affairs Department, and Brigadier General Lawal Idris, Defence Liaison Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Ambassador Musa Sani Nuhu described the visit as a reflection of the enduring friendship and strategic partnership between Nigeria and Uganda.
He also conveyed Nigeria’s condolences and solidarity to the governments and peoples of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo over the recent Ebola outbreak which reportedly claimed more than 130 lives. He prayed for the repose of the deceased, speedy recovery of affected persons, and comfort for bereaved families.
In his remarks, Ambassador Ali Gombe reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Uganda and congratulated the East African nation on its peaceful political transition.
The interactive session featured extensive discussions on diplomacy, terrorism, regional peace and security, climate change, global power transition, and Africa’s role in the evolving international order.
During the engagement, Brigadier General Lawal Idris presented a paper titled, “Adaptation to Global Power Transition: Nigeria in Perspective,” where he examined the implications of the emerging global order for Nigeria, Africa, and the sub-region.
He stressed the need for economic diversification, defence modernisation, technological advancement, regional cooperation, and human capital development as critical strategies for African countries navigating the evolving multipolar global system.
Participants also deliberated on security challenges confronting the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin regions, including terrorism, unconstitutional changes of government, and asymmetric threats.
Officials of the Ministry reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to democratic governance, regional stability, intelligence sharing, and joint security operations under the framework of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
The discussions further highlighted the impact of climate change, transhumance movements, youth unemployment, and maritime insecurity on peace and development across the continent, with participants calling for stronger African cooperation and collective responses to emerging challenges.
The Ugandan delegation expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Nigerian Armed Forces for the warm reception and productive engagements during the study visit.
The event concluded with an exchange of gifts as symbols of goodwill and enduring friendship between Nigeria and Uganda.
