By Fatima Saka
Nigeria and Kenya have initiated fresh diplomatic efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation, with both countries agreeing to reactivate their long-dormant Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) as a central mechanism for advancing structured engagement and measurable outcomes.
The renewed push followed a meeting on Wednesday in Abuja between Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Kenya’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Isaac Keen Parashina, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Welcoming the Kenyan envoy, Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening ties with Nairobi, describing the reactivation of the JCC — which has not convened in over a decade — as the most effective institutional framework for reviewing existing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and ensuring practical implementation.
She noted that while numerous MoUs have been signed across the continent, the absence of structured monitoring mechanisms often limits tangible impact. According to her, the revitalised Commission will help both countries prioritise sectors capable of delivering visible economic and social benefits.
The minister identified trade facilitation, fintech innovation, digital agriculture, livestock development, tourism, migration management, and anti-human trafficking cooperation as priority areas. She stressed that as two of Africa’s largest economies, Nigeria and Kenya must take deliberate steps to boost intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also highlighted demographic pressures confronting both countries, noting that a significant portion of their populations are under 45. She warned that youth-driven migration pressures, cybercrime networks, and human trafficking syndicates require coordinated African responses. In this regard, she proposed closer collaboration between Nigeria’s anti-trafficking institutions and Kenyan counterparts to dismantle transnational criminal networks.
On his part, Parashina conveyed Kenya’s commitment to operationalising visa reciprocity arrangements and improving travel and business conditions for citizens of both countries. He emphasised that predictable mobility frameworks would strengthen commercial and people-to-people exchanges.
The High Commissioner also briefed the minister on Kenya’s forthcoming Africa–France Summit in Nairobi, describing it as a continental platform aimed at redefining Africa–France development partnerships and promoting African ownership in global engagement processes. He invited Nigeria’s active participation and underscored the importance of private sector inclusion.
Parashina referenced the Kenya–Nigeria trade mission conducted in November 2025 and welcomed Nigeria’s follow-up efforts to address logistical bottlenecks identified during the visit. He noted that consistent follow-up is crucial to translating trade discussions into actionable results.
On multilateral cooperation, both sides exchanged views on United Nations reform and reiterated support for stronger African representation in global governance institutions, pledging mutual backing for respective international candidacies.
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In her closing remarks, Odumegwu-Ojukwu described Kenya as a strategic partner in advancing African-led solutions amid shifting geopolitical alignments and changing global development financing patterns. She stressed that structured engagement through the Joint Commission would enable both countries to define sectoral working groups, identify responsible ministries, and establish regular performance reviews.
Both diplomats expressed optimism that the renewed momentum would translate into expanded trade flows, strengthened security cooperation, improved migration management, and deeper economic integration — positioning Nigeria and Kenya as drivers of continental collaboration and self-reliance.
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