FRONT ROW: FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello (5th left in white), FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu (4th left), Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, (6th left), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda (3rd left) in a group photograph with Ambassadors Designate during their visit to the FCTA.
By Ignatius Ushie.
FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has tasked recently deployed Ambassadors Designate, Consuls General and Charge De Affairs by President Muhammadu Buhari to convey the message of unity to Nigerians in diaspora. In a statement made available to Transport Day in Abuja. He gave this charge when the envoys visited the FCTA as part of their induction exercise.
The Minister said that the FCT symbolizes the unity of Nigeria and also reminded them that the theme for the 60th independence anniversary of Nigeria was also unity and togetherness of her people. Speaking during the visit. Malam Bello said “As the largest black nation on earth, with our population, with the enormous amount of resources that God has endowed us with, we are better off together and united, and I hope that as our Ambassadors, our Consul Generals, Charge De Affairs and Heads of Missions, you will take this message across”.
The FCT Minister also advised the new envoys to build on the achievements and positive activities of their predecessors, saying, “My advice to you is, instead of trying to create new things, look inwards within your mission and consulates and see the works in progress. I think if you are able to do that, you will cut down the time it takes for you to acclimatize and then you would be able to push for so many things that would be of benefit to our dear country”.
While congratulating the envoys for their appointments which, he remarked, were well deserved, Malam Bello wished them successful tours of duty in their countries of posting.
Earlier, the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu reminded the diplomats that their duties included the promotion of peace, trade and the exchange of information.
She therefore urged them to use their vantage positions to market the abundant investment opportunities available in the FCT, which included opportunities in the agricultural, tourism and recreation, sustainable energy, housing, healthcare and transportation amongst others.
Dr Tijjani Aliyu also called on the envoys to urge potential investors to leverage the favourable climactic conditions, the high standard of functional infrastructure and the peaceful co-existence amongst the residents of the FCT to come over and invest in the Territory.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, said that the essence of the induction exercise was to familiarize the Ambassadors Designate with the requirement of representational duties.
Also present at the event were the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, the Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr Umar Gambo Jibrin and other senior staff of the FCTA.
