By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria is set to push for stronger humanitarian cooperation, youth empowerment and economic partnerships when the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers meets in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on August 27.
The Nigerian delegation to the meeting is being led by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, who said the country’s participation was aimed at securing practical partnerships that would deliver tangible benefits to Nigerians. 
The delegation departed from the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on Tuesday ahead of the meeting.
Speaking to journalists before departure, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria’s participation was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the country’s 4-D Foreign Policy Doctrine of Demography, Development, Diaspora and Democracy.
“This is a journey of strategic partnership and purpose devoid of ideological or religious fixation. Nigeria goes to Jeddah to advance cooperation that delivers real benefits to our people.
“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, our focus goes beyond partisan religious orientation and persuasion. It is about bringing real benefits and development to Nigerians. Our focus remains peace, prosperity, from stronger ties with the Islamic world,” the Minister of State said.
On humanitarian and security cooperation, the minister said Nigeria will advocate the operationalisation of a Nigeria-OIC Working Group on Humanitarian Affairs.
He said the proposed mechanism would strengthen regional responses to insecurity and humanitarian challenges in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel.
According to him, the initiative would cover support for interfaith dialogue, the rehabilitation of displaced communities, as well as efforts to tackle terrorism and violent extremism.
The minister also said Nigeria will seek expanded OIC-supported programmes targeting young people, women and other vulnerable groups.
He listed vocational training, women’s empowerment, healthcare and cultural exchanges among areas where Nigeria would seek greater cooperation.
The aim, he said, was to equip Nigerian youths with relevant skills while promoting peace and unity among OIC member states.
On economic diplomacy, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria will use the meeting to showcase the country’s economic reforms and investment opportunities under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said priority areas will include agriculture, manufacturing, Business Process Outsourcing, automotive, oil and gas, and commerce.
The minister added that Nigeria will engage OIC investors and institutions on Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) partnerships to attract foreign direct investment and support economic diversification.
The meeting will also feature the election of a new Secretary-General of the OIC.
Enikanolaiye said Nigeria will participate constructively in the process and work towards the emergence of leadership committed to unity, reform and people-centred programmes across the 57-member organisation.
He also sought to correct what he described as a lack of awareness about the activities of the OIC in Nigeria, noting that the organisation had implemented several programmes and projects in the country without religious bias.
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to multilateralism and stronger solidarity within the OIC, which he described as the second-largest intergovernmental organisation after the United Nations.
He noted that Nigeria had remained an active and prominent member of the OIC since 1986 and continued to play a leading role in promoting peace, development and cooperation among its 57 member states.
“Nigeria remains a committed member of the OIC. We will work with all member states to ensure our collective decisions reflect the aspirations of over 1.8 billion people and contribute to global peace and development,” he added.
The Minister of State is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts and OIC officials on the sidelines of the Council of Foreign Ministers meeting.
The discussions are expected to focus on strengthening bilateral relations and advancing Nigeria’s interests in humanitarian affairs, security, youth development and economic cooperation.
