The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, addressed the National Assembly of Cote d‘Ivoire on Monday, stressing the importance of parliamentary collaboration and unity among African nations.
Speaking at the opening session of the 2025 first Ordinary Session of the National Assembly of Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan, Akpabio also called for strengthening bilateral ties between Nigeria and Cote d‘Ivoire.
Akpabio, whose address was titled: “Strengthening Ties, Building the Future Together“, told the Ivoirien lawmakers that Cote d‘Ivoire and Nigeria are not merely neighbours but partners in the grand endeavour of African progress.
“The future of West Africa rests upon us. Therefore, let us not be complacent. The challenges before us are vast – youth unemployment, human trafficking and security threats.
“Yet, so too are the opportunities. Parliamentary cooperation should lead the way to deeper executive collaboration and unity.
We must set the tone for African parliamentary engagements and cooperation. The colonialists may have cut Africa into geopolitical chunks, but we must unite and stitch the torn fabrics of our heritage and teach the world that blood is still thicker than water.
Let us envision a region where borders are bridges of unity, not walls of division, where trade flourishes, cultures blend, and progress becomes the right of every citizen.
This vision is brought closer to reality by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a framework that demands our collective commitment to foster innovation and cooperation.
AfCFTA is not just a policy; it is a call to arms – a summons to tear down the barriers that divide us and build bridges that unite us.
Let us strengthen our trade, share our knowledge and expand our horizons. Let us ensure that the children of Cote d‘Ivoire and Nigeria in particular, and Africa in general, inherit a continent where dreams are not just possible but inevitable.
Let us strengthen the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Cote d‘Ivoire. Our collaboration must deepen across all sectors – trade, education, agriculture and energy – to ensure that the fruits of our partnership uplift every citizen in both nations.
As an African proverb reminds us, „The River is swollen with rain, but no single drop claims responsibility.“ We are all stewards of the progress we seek, and it is only through unity that we shall achieve it,“ he said.
The Senate President commended the Speaker of the Ivoirien National Assembly, Hon. Adama Bictogo, for his leadership, which he described as „a symbol of reconciliation and unity.“
He urged all the Honourable members of the Assembly to work together to tackle the scourge of human trafficking, enhance security cooperation, and invest in the future of the youth.
Akpabio also paid tribute to Ivoirien President Alassane Ouattara for the great work he is doing in his country and congratulated him and the people of Cote d’Ivoire for hosting the 2024 African Cup of Nations with grace and dignity.
Your victory over my country, Nigeria, a global football powerhouse in that tournament, was not just sporting glory; it was a proclamation to the world that Cote d‘Ivoire rises to every challenge,“ he said.
