Nigeria and Cuba have boldly strengthened diplomatic and economic ties, with a renewed focus on healthcare, education and trade.
This is just as both nations mark 50 years of diplomatic relations, formally starting in 1974. Nigeria‘s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, described Cuba as “a sacred land every progressive will identify with.“
In a statement by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, Senator Shettima said he spoke on Monday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja when he received the Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, and the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Miriam Morales Palmero.
He said, “Cuba, though located in South America, has its heartbeat in Africa. Your country played a crucial role in Africa’s liberation movements, standing with us during the anti-apartheid struggles in Southern Africa. We are proud of you because you represent resilience, unity, and selfless leadership.”
The Vice President noted cultural and ancestral ties between Nigeria and Cuba. A significant percentage of Cuba’s population has African roots, many of whom trace their lineage to Nigeria.
“About seventy per cent of Cuban Africans are from Nigeria. For us, Cuba is a sacred land where every progressive African identifies with,” he added.
He assured the Cuban delegation that Nigeria would continue honouring its commitments and seeking ways to bolster partnerships, particularly in healthcare and vaccine development.
“Our hearts and souls are with you. No matter how long the night is, it will give way to the light of the dawn. We will support you in whatever way we can, especially in strengthening our partnership in healthcare and vaccination programmes,” VP Shettima stated.
Earlier, the Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, outlined the enduring friendship between Nigeria and Cuba with events marking the milestone 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
“We are commemorating 50 years of diplomatic relations between Cuba and Nigeria. There is an essential African and Nigerian descent in forming our nations, our nationality, and our culture. The contributions made by African persons in Cuba to our development are immense.
“Without the support of Africans and Nigeria from the beginning of the Cuban revolution, we could hardly have survived. We shared common goals in our collective struggle against colonialism, apartheid, and racism,” he said.
Also speaking, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, emphasised the significance of the longstanding relationship and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deeper collaboration.
“He (Foreign Minister Parrilla) visited us to strengthen the relationship between the two countries, which has existed since 1974. We stood side-by-side with each other during the years of struggle to liberate African states from oppressive regimes.
“Today, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen bilateral and multilateral ties further. We discussed numerous subjects of mutual interest, including economic relations, tourism, science and technology, and many more,” Tuggar said.
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