The government of Germany has rallied the support of Nigeria and other African nations to achieve its long term goal in securing a permanent seat for the country on the United Nation’s Security Council.
The Germany government through its Consul General to Nigeria, Weert Börner speaking at International Colloquium, tagged 50 Years of Germany in the United Nations, organised by the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding in Osogbo, Osun State disclosed that the country has pursued a balance economic and trade policy between the North and the South since it became a member of the UN five decades ago.
He said: “It is imperative that Nigeria and Africa as a whole support a call that Germany should be made one of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council being the second largest contributor in terms of budget. Germany leads the crusade for restitution and returns of looted African artifacts and also involve in ensuring mutual cultural exchange between it and African countries in the past 50 years.
“The relationship between Nigeria and Germany in the area of culture, we have been one of the major patron of African culture and art over the years and we’ve supported Nigeria in some areas through institutions like Center for Black Culture and International Understanding, there is a center in Germany now named Iwalewa House at a University of Bayreuth to show the extent of mutual respect that exist between us.
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“Also on education, we have been the major institutional models of scholarship award in which Africans have benefited through various German foundations. Similarly during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have the largest shipment of vaccines to the continent.”
Earlier, the Director of the Centre, Professor Siyan Oyeweso said that part of the issues at the front burner of Germany in 2025 and 2027 is to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in such a manner that other disadvantage countries can also have a voice in the United Nations.
Speakers at the event included Professor Femi Mimiko, Professor Aderemi Ajala, Professor Olutayo Adesina among other prominent scholars.