{"id":122396,"date":"2025-09-22T03:21:07","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T02:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=122396"},"modified":"2025-09-22T03:21:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T02:21:07","slug":"nigeria-cuba-set-to-strengthen-parliamentary-ties-abbas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/nigeria-cuba-set-to-strengthen-parliamentary-ties-abbas\/","title":{"rendered":"Nigeria, Cuba Set to strengthen Parliamentary Ties \u2014 Abbas"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Tracy Moses<\/div>\n
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The Speaker of Nigeria\u2019s House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON, has urged a stronger parliamentary alliance between Nigeria and Cuba aimed at advancing healthcare, education, scientific research, and strategic trade relations.<\/div>\n
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Addressing a high-powered Cuban delegation during a courtesy visit to the National Assembly in Abuja on Sunday, Speaker Tajudeen, represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR, stressed that parliamentary diplomacy must yield concrete outcomes. He called for binding Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), sustainable agreements, and adequately funded collaborative projects.<\/div>\n
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The Cuban team was led by Hon. Fernando Gonz\u00e1lez Llort, a celebrated national hero of Cuba, member of the Cuban National Assembly of People\u2019s Power (ANPP), and President of the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP).<\/div>\n
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Welcoming the delegation, Speaker Tajudeen commended the enduring friendship between both nations, while pressing for broader cooperation. He identified healthcare, education, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, trade, and cultural exchange as priority areas.<\/div>\n
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\u201cNigeria\u2019s foreign policy is anchored on African unity and South-South solidarity, with the goal of promoting peace, sustainable development, and shared prosperity,\u201d Tajudeen said. \u201cThe 10th House of Representatives is fully aligned with this vision through laws that foster economic cooperation, cross-cultural understanding, and stronger global engagement.\u201d<\/div>\n
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He lauded Cuba\u2019s history of international solidarity, from supporting liberation struggles to promoting equitable development, and described it as a model worth emulating. Tajudeen also emphasized that structured parliamentary linkages would help drive shared interests.<\/div>\n
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\u201cOur instruments are lawmaking, oversight, and dialogue,\u201d he stated. \u201cThe Nigeria-Cuba Parliamentary Friendship Group offers a platform to build frameworks on medical exchanges, academic recognition, scientific innovation, and strategic investment.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Although trade volumes between the two countries remain modest, with Nigeria importing only $2,380 worth of goods from Cuba in 2024, according to UN Comtrade, Tajudeen noted that cultural ties are robust. He suggested that common traditions in sports, music, and literature could be harnessed to grow agriculture, creative industries, and artisanal crafts.<\/div>\n
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On education, he advocated for Cuban scholarships, academic exchange programs, and internships that would equip Nigerian youth with global skills. He further hailed Cuba\u2019s renowned \u201cHenry Reeve\u201d medical brigades, which have deployed more than 1,200 doctors globally, proposing joint training schemes, medical exchanges, and co-creation of treatments to strengthen Nigeria\u2019s health sector.<\/div>\n
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The Speaker highlighted the need for affordable access to drugs and vaccines, referencing Cuba\u2019s Abdala COVID-19 vaccine, which proved 92% effective against severe disease. He proposed cooperation in vaccine production, technology transfer, and research to boost Nigeria\u2019s public health, create jobs, and enhance local capacity.<\/div>\n
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Tajudeen emphasized that the partnership should be mutually beneficial, noting that while Cuba provides valuable expertise in medicine, education, and biotech, Nigeria contributes a large market of over 200 million people, abundant natural resources, vibrant culture, and continental leadership.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWhether in energy, agriculture, medicine, sports, or tourism, opportunities for collaboration are vast,\u201d he observed. \u201cCuba brings tested expertise; Nigeria brings scale and potential. Together, we can drive progress across the Global South.\u201d<\/div>\n
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He stressed the importance of moving beyond ceremonial exchanges toward practical cooperation.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThe task before us is to engage in frank discussions about capacity, financing, and benefits,\u201d he added. \u201cAgreements must safeguard intellectual property rights, encourage technology transfer, and build value chains that create jobs, clinics, and stronger universities.\u201d<\/div>\n
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The Speaker concluded with a vision for closer ties: \u201cThis visit should mark the beginning of genuine engagement, linking Abuja with Havana, Lagos with Santiago, and Bende with Camag\u00fcey. As lawmakers, we stand ready to provide the legal foundation for enduring collaboration across culture, trade, and education.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Responding, Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria Miriam Morales Palmer and Hon. Gonz\u00e1lez Llort expressed appreciation for Nigeria\u2019s hospitality and reaffirmed Cuba\u2019s readiness for deeper cooperation. Llort also formally invited Deputy Speaker Kalu to visit Havana for further dialogue on strengthening parliamentary ties.<\/div>\n
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By Tracy Moses The Speaker of Nigeria\u2019s House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON, has urged a stronger parliamentary alliance between Nigeria and Cuba aimed at advancing healthcare,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":119802,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-122396","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nNigeria, Cuba Set to strengthen Parliamentary Ties \u2014 Abbas - Pointblank News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/nigeria-cuba-set-to-strengthen-parliamentary-ties-abbas\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Nigeria, Cuba Set to strengthen Parliamentary Ties \u2014 Abbas - Pointblank News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Tracy Moses The Speaker of Nigeria\u2019s House of Representatives, Rt. 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