Foreign Affairs minister set to play host to President of UN General Assembly

by The Ajasa News | May 6, 2019 11:59 pm

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama will this Tuesday play host to the visiting President of the United Nations General Assembly, Her Excellence, Ms María Espinosa at his office in Abuja.

Ms Espinosa is in Nigeria on the invitation of the Federal government with the aim to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United Nations.

According to the information gathered by www.theajasanews.com from the Foreign Affairs ministry, the minister is also expected to hold a joint press conference with the visiting United Nations General Assembly president on Tuesday.

A statement made available to journalists yesterday by the spokesperson, United Nations Information Centre, Oluseyi Soremekun, he noted that during her mission, she will discuss the priorities of the UN General Assembly as related to women and youth empowerment, raise awareness and encourage understanding of the importance of multilateralism and the UN.

He said that other issues to be discussed includes; raising further international awareness on the Lake Chad Basin and efforts of Nigeria to promote sustainable development, peace and security in the region, among others.

“While in Nigeria, the President of the UN General Assembly will have bilateral meetings with President Muhammadu Buhari, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama.

“She will also engage with students and youths on the theme: Responding to Global Challenges in a fast-Changing World: The Case for Strengthening Multilateralism”.

“Espinosa will also discuss with a women audience on the theme: `The Role of Women in the Promotion of Multilateralism”.

“She is scheduled to also meet with the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar,’’ Soremekun said.

According to him, this was the second official visit of Espinosa, President of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly to the African region since taking over the presidency.

He said that on June 5, 2018, the United Nations General Assembly elected Espinosa who was then Ecuadorean Foreign Minister as President, the fourth woman to hold that position and the first since 2006.

Somerekun disclosed that she has more than 20 years of multilateral experience in international negotiations, peace, security, defence, disarmament, human rights, indigenous peoples, gender equality, sustainable development environment, biodiversity, climate change and multilateral cooperation.

Source URL: https://theajasanews.com/foreign-affairs-minister-set-to-play-host-to-president-of-un-general-assembly/