Tinubu meets Ramaphosa for first bilateral engagement ahead of 78th UNGA
By Olubiyi Peter
President Bola Tinubu has met with Cyril Ramaphosa, South African president, as part of his bilateral engagements ahead of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in the United States of America.
In a statement on Monday, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu’s spokesperson, said the two leaders held a fruitful cross-sectoral discussion.
“H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has held a very fruitful, cross-sectoral discussion with South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa as the first of many bilateral engagements with counterparts from multiple continents in New York City, ahead of the UN General Assembly,” Ngelale tweeted.
The presidential spokesperson had earlier said his principal would engage in bilateral meetings that will focus on investments and economic development diplomacy during the UNGA session taking place in New York from September 18 to 26.
Tinubu is also expected to hold discussions with US President Joe Biden.
Molly Phee, US assistant secretary for African affairs, had said Biden had exclusively requested to meet with the Nigerian leader on the sidelines of UNGA.
Ngelale listed other world leaders that would engage with Tinubu to include Von der Leyen, president of the European Union Commission; President Azali Assoumani of Comoros; Mark Rutte, prime minister of the Netherlands; Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, King of Jordan; President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of Algeria; President Luiz Lula da Silva of Brazil; and Pedro Pérez-Castejón, prime minister of Spain.
Ngelale added that Tinubu would also meet with Brad Smith, global president of Microsoft, and Nick Clegg, head of global affairs for Meta Technologies.
He said the president would discuss strategies on how to improve Nigeria’s digital transformation and leverage artificial intelligence.
Tinubu is also expected to meet with the global chief executive officers of General Electric, and Exxon Mobil Oil and Gas Company to discuss investments in sectors revolving around power, aviation, and transportation.
