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PRESENTATION OF LETTERS OF CREDENCE TO HER MAJESTY, QUEEN BEATRIX OF THE ROYAL KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS ON 18TH JUNE, 2008

        At 9:20 a.m., on Wednesday, 18th June, 2008, Dr. (Mrs.) Nimota Nihinlola Akanbi was received in audience at the Court of Nordeinde Palace where she presented to Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, the Letters of Credence accrediting her as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Royal Kingdom of the Netherlands.

2.     In a ceremony marked with pomp and pageantry, she was conveyed to the Royal Palace in the splendour of the Royal coach drawn by horses specially trained for ceremonial occasions such as this, through the city of The Hague.  She inspected a special guard of honour mounted by the Royal Guards.  The inspection was followed by a special rendition of the national anthems of Nigeria and the Netherlands.

3.     The ceremony was the culmination of a series of visits and courtesy calls to a number of senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and of the Dutch Government, on the recommendation of the Foreign Office in the Netherlands.   During the ceremony, she conveyed to Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, the felicitation and best wishes of His Excellency, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the good tidings of the government and people of Nigeria.  The Queen and the Ambassador discussed several

aspects of the relations between Nigeria and the Netherlands.  She was the first of three Ambassadors that presented their Letters of Credence that day.  The other two were the Ambassadors of Cote d’Ivoire and Jamaica

4.     To mark the occasion, a lunch reception was hosted at the Residence where her colleagues from the African Diplomatic Corps, officials of the host Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Representatives of the major companies that operate in Nigeria and leaders of the Nigerian Community were in attendance.

5.     In her brief remark, she promised to improve on the relations between Nigeria and the Netherlands by promoting relations aimed at enhancing the Seven-Points Agenda of the present administration.  She underscored the fact that the relations between the two countries should not be seen only in the light of Shell operations in Nigeria, but emphasized that the bilateral scope should be enlarged to ensure that Intergovernmental discussions are held once every year or in two years.  The Intergovernmental forum will bring to focus all other issues in Nigeria/Netherlands relations such as agriculture, power and energy, science and technology, health, transportation and tourism as well as trade and investment.  She also informed the guests that Nigeria, being the largest market for Dutch products in Africa, should be given special consideration in the Netherlands relationship with Africa.  This is even more imperative in view of the fact that over 27 Dutch companies are fully operational in Nigeria, such as WAMCO in the food and livestock business, Heineken in the beverages, KLM air carriers, Vlisco in the textile industry, Royal Asconin in Construction and infrastructure business.  To that end, she intends to reach out to the business community and other stakeholders as a positive step towards the realization of these noble goals.

6.     Finally, the Ambassador called on the Nigerian Community to be law abiding while pursing their legitimate businesses and avoid acts that bring disrepute to the country.  She assured them of her preparedness to render full and complete service to the Community in the spirit of the Federal Government’s new initiative on citizen’s diplomacy.

Information Section
Embassy of Nigeria
The Hague

INVITATION TO INVESTORS

I am directed to inform the general public that the Embassy,in collaboration with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission(NICP), is making arrangement to conduct the second investment forum in Nigeria.This is sequel to the succesful business forum that took place on 9th of august ,2008.

To this end,invitation is extended to prospective Dutch business men and enterpreneurs, especially in the small and medium enterprises as well as other organisations that are desirous to invest in the areas of Health,Agriculture,Energy ,Transportation,Education and Infrastructures developement to register with the economic desk of the embassy as soon as possible.

EBIDAPOR John Anthony

For Ambassador

4th sept,2008

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE AND NEW YEAR’S GREETINGS FROM H.E. DR.(MRS.) NIMOTA N. AKANBI, AMBASSADOR OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA TO THE ROYAL KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS

On this joyous season of Christmas and Sallah and at the threshold of a new year, I wish to reach out to my fellow Compatriots living in the Netherlands, far away from home and their loved ones. Over the past few months as the Ambassador, if you recall, I have tried to reach out to you all, bringing to your attention the need to come together and contribute your own quota to the development of our Country and the well being of our people. I have held interactive sessions with you in order to get to know you intimately, enable me serve you better and be able to plan better for all.

I have had series of bilateral meetings with officials of our Host Country and the Dutch business community in order to improve the bilateral and economic relations between our dear Country and the Netherlands and to attract foreign investments to Nigeria. The aims and objectives of these meetings have been successful in the sense that it has given me a new direction on how to serve you and has brought me closer to the Nigerian community while exposing the new possibilities and the vibrant business frontiers of Nigeria to our foreign investors

The season of Christmas brings to remembrance, the good times of the passing year, holding dear to our hearts what brings us together; love, faith, hope and a passion to see our Country prosper and take her place among the comity of nations. The celebration of a New Year helps us to reflect on the activities of the past year, thanking God Almighty for preserving our lives, while hoping for a better tomorrow and standing strong to confront the challenges that future holds for us as a Nation and as a people especially the Diaspora community of Nigeria, who are far away from home.

This season most especially reminds us of the bonfires, moonlit nights and the aroma of warm earthen pots filled with good cooking and of burnt firewood smoke sieving through the eaves of thatched roofs mixed with the morning dew and fresh smell of the forest including the ‘Harmattan’ dry winds carrying in its wake the joy and nostalgic feeling of family reunions, of laughing voices that goes on deep into the night, that are the hallmark of this season. Nevertheless the nostalgia can be re-enacted amongst us, as we demonstrate to one another the hospitality and goodwill that is the mark of our tradition and culture as Nigerians and Africans.

My fellow Country men and women, I enjoin you all, to pray for our President and our dear Country Nigeria and indeed, the Nations of the earth, for peace, prosperity and security to return to us in these troubled times. Let us seek to expand the frontiers of Nigeria economically, let our nation be a beacon of hope for all the nations of Africa and indeed the world over, seeking to establish a bright future for Africa and peaceful co-existence of all mankind.

May this New Year bring new opportunities our way, to explore every joy of life, may the days and months ahead turn your dreams to reality and all your efforts into great achievements. As we remember the true meaning of Christmas which is above all, sacrifice and being our brothers’ keeper, may the spirit of Christmas and the Sallah reign amongst us throughout the remaining part of this year and the New Year.

Finally, I pledge my total commitment to you and declare that I and my Mission are at your service, to serve your cause as a people and a Country, protecting your interests within the framework of the mandate given to me as your Ambassador by Mr. President.

This is wishing you my fellow Nigerians and citizens of the Netherlands, Barka De Sallah, a very merry Christmas and a prosperous Year 2009. May God Bless you!

Dr. (Mrs.) N. N. Akanbi

Ambassador of Nigeria to the Royal Kingdom of the Netherlands

Embassy of Nigeria in The Hague

1st December 2008