“NIGERIA WEEK IN LEBANON” EVENTS

(28 JULY – 3 AUGUST 2008)

Introduction

    The Embassy of Nigeria in Beirut, in collaboration with the Lebanese Nigerian Friendship Association (LENIFRA) and the Directorate General of Emigrants of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants held a week-long series of activities between 28^th July and 3^rd August 2008, aimed at diversifying and enriching the content of the socio-cultural and economic ties between Lebanon and Nigeria.

 Visits to Four Chambers of Commerce in Lebanon

2.    The delegation from Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) was led by its National President, Dr. Ignatius Ijegwa Adaji, OON, mni, while that of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) was led by its President, Alhaji Bashir Borodo, MFR. The two delegations held meetings with the four regional Chambers of Commerce in Zahle (Bekaa), Saida (South Lebanon), Tripoli (North Lebanon), and Beirut respectively.  They also inspected over eight industrial and agricultural establishments in the various regional zones and familiarised themselves with the modern methods and best practices inherent in their operations.

Bilateral Cooperation Agreements

3.     NACCIMA and MAN executed cooperation agreements with the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Lebanon, and the Association of Lebanese Industrialists respectively. The former Agreement provides for mutual assistance to, and establishment of direct contacts among, business organizations in both countries.  It also provides for the establishment of a Joint Business Council within Lebanon and Nigeria to respectively monitor the implementation of the cooperation agreement.

4.    In addition to its provisions for the organization of joint trade exhibitions and seminars, the Memorandum of Understanding between MAN and the Association of Lebanese Industrialists seeks to facilitate entrepreneurial activities and capacity building between manufacturers in both countries.  

Civic Receptions and Networking

5.    Members of the delegation were received by the Nigerian Lebanese communities in Sour, Miziara, Hasbaiya, and Baabdat on various dates. The reception in Sour was sponsored by Mr. Hani Saffiedeen, a member of the Board of Trustees of LENIFRA and owner of a sprawling transportation business in Nigeria, while the Miziara reception was packaged by the entire town of Miziara, from where the first Lebanese immigrant to Nigeria originated.  Similarly, the reception in Baabdat was given by the Chairman of LENIFRA Board of Trustees, Mr. William Zard Abou Jaoude, while that of Hasbaiya was granted by MP Anwar Khalil. Two Lebanese Banks with representation offices in Nigeria, namely Bank of Beirut and Byblos bank, accompanied the delegation throughout the visit.

Symposium

6.    Members of the Lebanese Civil Society, the Lebanese Diaspora and the Nigerian Community were treated to academic presentations by two senior Nigerian lecturers: Dr. Sabo Abdullahi Albasu, formerly of Bayero University, Kano (and now Director, Police Service Commission; and author of the book “The Lebanese in Kano”); and Dr. Peter Folorunsho Adebayo of University of Ilorin.  The audience was taken through the many epochal phases of Lebanese immigration in Nigeria and their contributions to economic prosperity, capital formation, investments and socio-cultural development of Nigeria.  The Notre Dame University in Beirut also participated in the proceedings of the Symposium through the Associate Director of its Lebanese Emigrants Research Center (LERC), Ms Guita Houraini, who was the moderator of the Symposium.

Youth Activities and Cultural Night

7.    The establishment of a LENIFRA football team and the organization of a friendly match with a famous club-side in Lebanon, Najmeh were well received within the youth forum in Lebanon.  The friendly match took place at Najmeh Club Stadium in Beirut on 31 July 2008 and was watched by the Director-General of the Lebanese Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Pakistani and Malaysian Ambassadors to Lebanon, and officials of Najmeh Club as well as a team of spectators from the resident Nigerian and African communities.  The score-line was 2:0 in favour of the Nahjmeh Team. Medals and trophies were distributed to the players.

8.    The Cultural Night was held on Friday, 1^st August 2008 and it featured an exhibition of community photos and Nigerian arts, Nigerian music performed by a local Nigerian orchestra and a display of Nigeria cuisine.

 About Nigeria                     Contact Us                     Home