PRESS RELEASE

 

NIGERIA’S NEW HIGH COMMISSIONER TO CANADA
PRESENTS HIS LETTERS OF CREDENCE TO
CANADA’S GOVERNOR-GENERAL, THURSDAY, 26 JUNE 2008

  

His  Excellency Amb. Iyorwuese Hagher, Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada
with Her Excellency the Rt. Hon. Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada
 

The new Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada, His Excellency Ambassador Iyorwuese Hagher has presented his Letters of Credence to the Governor-General of Canada, The Rt. Hon. Michaelle Jean. The presentation took place on Thursday, 26 June 2008 in Quebec. His spouse, some members of staff of the Nigeria High Commission as well as prominent Nigerians from Ottawa and the larger Ontario province in Canada accompanied Ambassador Hagher to the presentation ceremony.

The new High Commissioner in Nigeria’s traditional dress was driven from his Hotel to the venue of the event in a motorcade provided by the host Government. On hand to receive him at the Citadelle of Quebec City were members of his staff who also turned out in their Nigerian attires.

During the brief but colourful presentation ceremony, Ambassador Hagher conveyed the fraternal greetings and best wishes of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the Government and people of Nigeria to the Governor-General of Canada. Noting, with satisfaction, the excellent relations that so happily exist between Canada and Nigeria, the High Commissioner affirmed his determination to work assiduously towards the promotion of these relations, to the mutual benefit of both countries and their peoples in the years to come.

 Ambassador Hagher also informed the Governor-General of government’s seven-point agenda and solicited Canada’s support for its realization. Furthermore His Excellency alluded to the stable polity in Nigeria and the entrenchment of democratic values and invited the Canadian business communities to take advantage of the investment opportunities for the mutual benefit of our peoples. He also touched on the need to further promote the level of bilateral cooperation between our two countries through vigorous exchange and interaction.

 In her response, Michaelle Jean expressed profound pleasure at the appointment of Ambassador Hagher and wished him and his family every success in his new job. She also expressed, on behalf of the Government and people of Canada, her best wishes for the President Yar’Adua, the people and Government of Nigeria. The discussion between the Governor-General and the new High Commissioner also touched on other issues of interest to the two countries. The Governor- General paid tribute to Nigeria’s exemplary role over the years in peace-keeping operations in Africa and other part of the world particularly in Liberia, Sierra - Leone and the Sudan. She expressed regret at the recent tragic loss of lives of Nigerian soldiers returning from service in Darfur and conveyed the sympathy of the Government of Canada to the government of Nigeria and people.

The Governor-General acknowledged that Nigeria was richly blessed with vast human and material resources but also faced with enormous challenges, with emphasis on how Canada could continue to assist Nigeria in meeting the challenges of development.

At the end of the presentation ceremony, the colourful Nigerian delegations present at the occasion were formally introduced to the Governor-General Michaelle Jean and her spouse in a reception at the Citadelle.

Nigeria High Commission, Ottawa
3rd July,2008.