SPEECH OF AMBASSADOR DEBO J. ADESINA ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESENTATION OF HIS LETTERS OF CREDENCE TO HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT FAURE ESSOZIMNA GNASSINGBE, OF THE
REPUBLIC OF TOGO ON JULY 23, 2021
I thank you, Your Excellency, President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe,
President of the Republic of Togo, for receiving me this day, to
present my Letters of Credence.
I also wish to appreciate the Minister of Foreign Affairs, of Regional
Integration and Togolese from Abroad, Professor Robert Dussey, for
his assistance and cooperation since my arrival in Togo.
I would like to convey the good wishes of President Muhammadu
Buhari GCFR, and the people of Nigeria to Your Excellency and to the
good, accommodating people of Togo.
I salute you, your government and the entire country for a well-organised and impressive fight against the corona virus pandemic.
For giving women, in very good numbers, positions of responsibility
and authority in your government, I must remark, Mr President, you
have set the pace in our region and set the tone for a chorus which
must be sung by all who believe in the future of Africa and the pivotal
role of our women in it.
Nigeria and Togo are strong allies and strategic partners. We have a
long history of togetherness. Our joint leadership in fostering unity in
the West African sub-region and our shared vision of dignity for our
people remain examples for many to follow.
It is in this regard that the key component of my mandate, as given by
President Muhammadu Buhari, is to vigorously pursue economic diplomacy and strengthen our partnership in the areas of trade and
economic development for the benefit of our people.
Therefore, as Ambassador, I will seek to expand the frontiers of our trade
relations and economic cooperation. I will work for the resuscitation of
the Bilateral Trade Agreements between Nigeria and Togo as well as the
reactivation of Nigeria-Togo Joint Commission.
Your Excellency, I will also seek to promote the change agenda of
President Buhari by joining hands with you in your committed fight
against corruption and a relentless one against insecurity.
The development of infrastructure, reducing unemployment, eradication of poverty and many other things in your Development Agenda are in
tune with President Buhari’s vision.
In Nigeria, therefore, you have a strong supporter.
Finally, I am committed to sustaining Nigeria’s policy of good
neighbourliness and continued quest for the unity of Africa.
As Africans, we are one. Our borders are lines of convenience, not
barriers to our unity and collective progress.
As I begin this journey, I count on Your Excellency’s support for a
successful tenure signposted by unparalleled cooperation between our
countries and unprecedented prosperity for all Nigerians and Togolese.
