By Gloria Ikibah
The Ghana High Commission in Abuja has presented a commemorative cake to Nigeria to mark the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary, describing the gesture as a symbol of the longstanding friendship and solidarity between both countries.
The cake was presented at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja on Wednesday by Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu. 
Receiving the gift, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, described the presentation as an unusual and historically significant gesture.
“I must say, it’s very rare. I have been in the diplomatic service for quite some time. I do not have a recollection of any occasion in which this kind of presentation has taken place in the Ministry by a diplomatic mission. It may have, quite frankly, I cannot remember. So what you’ve done is historically very unique,” he said.
Enikanolaiye said the gesture demonstrated the depth and strength of the relationship between Nigeria and Ghana, describing both countries as brotherly and sisterly nations bound by shared history and common aspirations.
He recalled his days as a student when the works of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, formed an important part of his academic readings.
According to him, Nkrumah’s Pan-African ideals remained relevant to contemporary African realities, stressing that Nigeria and Ghana must continue to dialogue and negotiate while upholding principles that advance their respective national interests.
The minister also thanked the Ghana High Commission for its observations on the need to further strengthen bilateral relations.
According to him, both countries were committed to ensuring that their longstanding relationship produced greater benefits for their citizens.
“We need to work harder to ensure that irritants in this relationship are prevented from snowballing into situations in which our peoples begin to question the basis and rationale of a relationship that had so long been nourished by our forefathers,” he said.
Enikanolaiye stressed the importance of maintaining open channels of communication between Abuja and Accra, particularly in addressing issues capable of affecting bilateral relations.
He also commended Ghana for its cooperation with Nigeria in efforts to address attacks against Africans on the continent.
Ambassador Enikanolaiye reiterated Nigeria’s position that such attacks should be described as Afrophobia rather than xenophobia, given that most of those affected in South Africa are fellow Black Africans.
“What is going on is totally unacceptable. It is barbaric. The punishment for irregular migration is certainly not death. The punishment for criminality where guilt has not been proven in court is also not death. We believe that the rule of law must be allowed to prevail,” he said.
Enikanolaiye further commended Ghana for its historic initiative at the United Nations to secure recognition of colonialism as a crime against humanity and for championing calls for reparations.
He said Nigeria would continue to work with Ghana to promote issues that serve the interests of their citizens and the wider African continent.
Earlier, the Ghanaian High Commissioner, Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu, described Nigeria and Ghana as members of the same family, saying the cake presentation reflected the longstanding cultural, economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries.
He said the special relationship between Ghana and Nigeria had continued to grow since the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries.
According to him, Nigeria remains one of Ghana’s major sources of investment, while Ghanaian businesses and investors continue to maintain a strong presence in Nigeria.
The High Commissioner traced the roots of the relationship to Ghana’s former President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who visited Nigeria in February 1959 and held discussions with prominent Nigerian leaders, including Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, during the struggle for independence.
He said the relationship had since expanded across several sectors, urging younger generations in both countries to build on the foundation laid by their predecessors.
Abu also highlighted the strong social and cultural connections between Nigerians and Ghanaians, pointing to music, football, social media interactions and the popular “Jollof Wars” as examples of the friendly rivalry between both countries.
The celebration also took on a sporting flavour when the High Commissioner presented a Ghanaian football jersey to Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, with both sides engaging in a light-hearted exchange over the football rivalry between the two countries.
The gesture added a touch of sporting camaraderie to the anniversary celebration, reflecting the cultural affinity and friendly competition that have long characterised Nigeria-Ghana relations.
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening its historic and strategic partnership with Ghana for the mutual benefit of both countries and the wider African continent.
