Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

Permit me to welcome you all to the annual occasion of Nigeria’s National Day.

This year’s celebration of the Forty-Eight anniversary of Nigeria’s independence is particularly significant. The fact that it is coinciding with the festival of Eid El-Fitr is indeed a divine blessing. In addition to the various achievements underway in Nigeria in the area of economic rebirth and political renaissance, we are also witnessing in Lebanon the convivial atmosphere of national reconciliation and popular dialogue among the various segments of the Lebanese political forces.

Last year we had cause to beseech the Almighty to restore hope and national stability to our two countries. With the passage of more than one year after the assumption of leadership in Nigeria by President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, we could now give thanks to the Almighty for His blessings as Nigerians continue to witness political peace, economic progress and social harmony. In Lebanon, the past one year has also been full of positive events in the area of consolidation of the various state structures and the return of political life and economic vibrancy to a country, known world-wide as the oriental hub for trade and services and as a cultural ‘rainbow’ in the Middle East. 

In the same vein, we give thanks to the Almighty for the milestones, which we have recorded in promoting active socio-cultural and economic relations between the peoples of Nigeria and Lebanon. The Lebanese-Nigerian Friendship Association, registered in Lebanon in 2007, has continued to lead the way in promoting active socio-economic relations and friendship between the peoples of Lebanon and Nigeria.

It is to the credit of this Association and the sanguine efforts of the Directorate of Emigrants in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants that the first Nigeria Week in Lebanon events were successfully carried out during the current year.

Judging from the feed-backs provided by the various segments of the Nigerian Civil Society, which participated in these series of activities, the events had added new horizons to the historical relations existing between our two peoples. 

I, therefore, wish to avail myself of this auspicious occasion to address my felicitations to all those who made these feats possible.