The Vice President of the Republic of Colombia, Francia Márquez, has arrived in Nigeria for a three-day working visit aimed at advancing bilateral relations between the two nations.
Márquez, who was accompanied by her husband, Rafael Yerney Pinillo Ocoró, touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where she was warmly received by senior Nigerian government officials. Welcoming her on behalf of the federal government were the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, alongside the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Mariya Bunkure.
Others at the airport to receive the Colombian Vice President included the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, as well as other high-ranking officials.
The visit is expected to play a key role in strengthening diplomatic, economic, and strategic cooperation between Nigeria and Colombia. Both governments are set to explore new opportunities for collaboration across multiple sectors such as trade, agriculture, education, energy, governance, and security.
Márquez’s delegation includes cabinet ministers, senior officials, and representatives from Colombia’s business community, all of whom will engage their Nigerian counterparts in dialogue designed to boost bilateral ties and foster joint initiatives.
One of the most anticipated aspects of the visit is the formal signing of several memoranda of understanding, covering wide-ranging areas of cooperation including women’s empowerment, culture, agriculture, aviation, trade, and manufacturing. These agreements are expected to lay the groundwork for stronger institutional and private-sector partnerships.
The official engagements will also include a joint plenary session attended by both vice presidents, a Nigeria-Colombia Business Forum, as well as bilateral meetings between government representatives of the two countries. In addition, the agenda features side events such as high-level business sector meetings hosted by Nigeria’s Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, alongside a summit dedicated to artificial intelligence and its role in shaping the future of governance and economic growth.
What you should know
Francia Márquez, Colombia’s first Afro-Colombian vice president and an environmental activist turned politician, is visiting Nigeria to solidify ties between both nations.
Her trip is seen as a significant step toward deepening cooperation in governance, trade, women’s empowerment, and innovation, while also expanding Colombia’s diplomatic footprint in Africa.
