The Nation Newspaper

Tag: irish

  • Irish President Higgins may visit Nigeria

    Irish President Higgins may visit Nigeria

    Irish President Michael D. Higgins may visit Nigeria soon. This is part of the outcome of the presentation of the letter of credence by Nigeria’s new ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, Dr. Uzoma Elizabeth Emenike in Dublin.

    The new envoy told President Higgins that he shared a lot in common with President Muhammadu Buhari, particularly in integrity and passion to develop their countries. She also told Higgins that Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa.

    Ambassador Emenike indicated that with the biggest population on the African continent, with one in every five black persons in the world, Nigeria’s investment potentials are enormous. Nigeria, according to the Ambassador, also has a youthful population, where over 60 percent is under 35 years. With these attractive features of the economy, she added that Irish investment in Nigeria is guaranteed present and future profitability.

    She said the opportunities which Nigeria offers would be greatly enhanced by diplomatic engagement of both countries at the highest level of leadership. She informed President Higgins that in line with the principle of reciprocity in diplomatic relations, it would be splendid for the Irish President to pay a state visit to Nigeria since a Nigerian leader, President Olusegun Obasanjo had visited Ireland in 2002.

    Higgins promised to give her suggestion a serious consideration. He went further to trace the history of relationship between both countries, pointing out that both countries established diplomatic relation immediately after Nigeria gained her independence from Britain in 1960.

    President Higgins said the relationship between the two countries were deep because of the work of Irish missionaries during the colonial era. He was particularly happy with the efforts President Buhari’s government has made to contain the menace posed by Boko Haram just as he applauded the work of over 40,000 Nigerians who live, work, or study in Ireland. He wished Ambassador Emenike a successful tenure and pledged to support any initiatives that would further boost relations between both countries.

    These remarks were made before an impressive and color guard of honor parade as part of the ceremony marking the presentation of Ambassador Emenike’s letter of credence to the Republic of Ireland.

    The well-choreographed ceremony, which took place at the official residence of the Irish President, was attended by officials from the Nigerian Embassy in Dublin and also High Chief Ikechi Emenike, the husband of the Ambassador, and their four children. Many high-ranking Nigerians who came from all over the world, ambassadors, and other foreign dignitaries were treated to a reception afterwards.

    Ambassador Emenike, who holds a doctorate degree in Foreign Relations, an experienced, diplomat used the opportunities offered her by the reception to raise the profile of Nigeria and market her country’s huge economic potentials to the world. Ambassador Emenike stated that, among other important functions, she regarded herself as the chief marketing officer for Nigeria in Ireland. She promised to not only improve the ongoing good relation between Nigeria and Ireland, but also to increase the participation of Irish capital and expertise in the economic development of her country.

    She also met with various Nigerian citizens and groups in Ireland and assured them of the commitment of the President Buhari, the Federal Government and the whole country to their wellbeing. She also told them that each and every one of them is an ambassador of Nigeria in their own right and they must always respect the laws of Ireland, exhibiting the highest level of integrity in dealing with the host country, her institutions, and her citizens. She pledged that herself and the other officials of the embassy will be available to serve them.

    Ambassador Emenike, a woman with sharp mind, her character always highlighted by patience and integrity, her long career undergirded by firm commitment to high ideals and learning, is set to make her mark as a great ambassador. Her career started with Nigerian foreign services in 1987 and many who have worked with her respect her prodigious intellect, honesty, professionalism, and oratorical skills.

  • Militancy, insecurity in Niger Delta didn’t deter me from service, says retiring Irish missionary

    A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Paul Hardy, has said that militancy and kidnapping in the Niger Delta did not deter his 52 years of missionary work in the region.

    Speaking at a send-off ceremony in his honour, Hardy, who started his missionary work in 1964 in Calabar, said that the insecurity in the Niger Delta was not enough to deter him from serving in God‘s vineyard, adding that the zeal to impact life was paramount.

    The priest said that though he was a foreigner, he had no economic or commercial value to attract kidnappers, hence he did not bother about his personal security as he lived among the ordinary people.

    “I have no economic and commercial value, but I have enormous spiritual value for all mankind and so I have nothing to be afraid of,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the parishioners of Christ the King Parish, Imiringi in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa took turns to shower him with encomiums for his selfless service.

    The Chairman of the men’s fellowship in the parish, Chief Jude Ogbuku, said the entire Bomadi Vicariate would miss the priest.

    Ogbuku said Hardy would be remembered for his relentless missionary service to the entire vicariate, appreciating his fatherly love shown to both Christians and non-Christians who came in contact with him.

    While praying God to bless the priest on earth and later in heaven, the chairman challenged indigenous priests to lead lives worthy of emulation.

    Chief Napolian Izuan, who spoke on behalf of Imiringi community, commended Hardy for his compassion to the poor, the needy and the less privileged in the society.

    “The legacy he left behind will not be forgotten,” he said.

  • Cross River, Irish investors plan 5,000 housing units

    Cross River, Irish investors plan 5,000 housing units

    Cross River State government and Irish property developers are finalisng a deal for the construction of 5,000 housing units.

    The investors met with Governor Ben Ayade in Calabar yesterday.

    The meeting is coming barely two weeks after Ayade led a trade delegation to the Republic of Ireland.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Christian Ita, said modalities had been worked out between the state government and an Irish building firm, Affordable Building Concept International, to build affordable houses in its effort to develop new cities.

    Ayade, while receiving the team which he described as “ specialists in affordable housing scheme”, in Calabar, explained that its presence was a follow-up to an earlier discussion in Dublin on plans by his administration to provide affordable but comfortable shelter for the poor and unemployed.

    Ayade said: “There is no amount of value you can give to mankind that will compensate for the lack of shelter. The  investors will come with their technology and expertise and set up a factory where low-cost housing will be designed off site and the houses set up in less than three days.”

    Headded that the houses would be in three categories to cater for the needs of the people, who will key into the ambition of the government to create a new city in each of the local governments while that of Calabar will be called “Calas Vegas”.

    Ayade said they would be mindful of the natural endowment of the environment where the houses would be located.

    The  Chairman of Affordable Building Concept International, Mr. Desmond Cullinane, hoped that they would achieve some measure of success in the state.

    The Irish investors later visited Summit Hills, where UAC is building housing an estate of various categories, known as the Golf Estate.

  • YABATECH partners Irish institute

    YABATECH partners Irish institute

    The Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) is to partner Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), Ireland, on research and development.

    The alliance will also cover advanced articulation arrangement for undergraduate and post graduate students, staff exchange programmes and joint conferences.

    A statement by the YABATECH Public Relations Officer, Mr Adekunle Adams, noted that the Rector, Dr. Margaret Kudirat Ladipo, received representatives of the institute, last week.

    She told the visitors that YABATECH had maintained a very high standard in the past 60 years.

    Dr. Ladipo praised the management of the institute for partnering with the college. She assured them that YABATECH will work towards the success of the collaboration.

    The Head of the WIT delegation, Dr. Paul Barry, said plans to visit YABATECH had been on for two years.

    He said the 42-year-old institute awards diploma, degree as well as postgraduate and doctoral certificates, assuring the YABATECH management of its commitment to ensuring that the collaboration achieves its desired goals.

    Barry commended the efforts of the Nigerian community in Waterford for facilitating their visit to Nigeria.

    Mr Omotesho, President of the Nigerian community in Waterford, said the institute’s visit to Nigeria is as a result of efforts made to be good ambassadors of Nigeria in Ireland and invest in the country’s development.

     

  • YABATECH partners Irish institute

    The Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) is to partner Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), Ireland, on research and development.

    The alliance will also cover advanced articulation arrangement for undergraduate and post graduate students, staff exchange programmes and joint conferences.

    A statement by the YABATECH Public Relations Officer, Mr Adekunle Adams, noted that the Rector, Dr. Margaret Kudirat Ladipo, received representatives of the institute, last week.

    She told the visitors that YABATECH had maintained a very high standard in the past 60 years.

    Dr. Ladipo praised the management of the institute for partnering with the college. She assured them that YABATECH will work towards the success of the collaboration.

    The Head of the WIT delegation, Dr. Paul Barry, said plans to visit YABATECH had been on for two years.

    He said the 42-year-old institute awards diploma, degree as well as postgraduate and doctoral certificates, assuring the YABATECH management of its commitment to ensuring that the collaboration achieves its desired goals.

    Barry commended the efforts of the Nigerian community in Waterford for facilitating their visit to Nigeria.

    Mr Omotesho, President of the Nigerian community in Waterford, said the institute’s visit to Nigeria is as a result of efforts made to be good ambassadors of Nigeria in Ireland and invest in the country’s development.