Nigeria and Hungary are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on areas of joint co-operation of the multitudes of opportunities presented for the mutual benefits of both countries.
The agreement was reached on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to Vice President Namadi Sambo by a Hungarian delegation headed by the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Economics Relations, Peter Szijjarto.
The Vice President, expressed appreciation to the kind and favourable consideration by Hungary to open an Embassy in Nigeria and thanked the Hungarian Government for their decision to cooperate with Western Regions of Africa specifically Nigeria.
He took time to explain to the Hungarian delegation the rudiments of the Transformation Agenda and the contents of the Mid-Term Report Review. He detailed on the milestones attained in all spheres.
Sambo was excited by the selection of Education, one of the major areas of the Transformation Agenda, to offer a one-year scholarship to Nigerian students. He expressed his appreciation to the Hungarian government for the kind gesture while also expressing the readiness of the Federal Government to provide the enabling environment for Hungary to engage the private sector on a Public Private Partnership in socio-economic spheres stressing that the country has made giant strides in industrialization.
Earlier, Peter Szijjarto said that Europe was envious of the position of Nigeria and congratulated the country for her splendid economic achievement in attaining 6% economic growth. He stated further that Hungary desires to cooperate with emerging regions of the world and that, after the Hungarian crisis, they decided to rebuild their presence in Nigeria by setting up an office and posting an ambassador.
Furthermore, the Hungarian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs stated that he had earlier held a meeting with the Nigeria’s Minister of Trade and Economic Cooperation and that they would soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigeria’s Education Minister to grant a one-year scholarship for 50 Nigerian students in Hungary. He stated that currently there were 700 Nigerian students in Hungary out of which 400 were studying Medicine
The special envoy also expressed the readiness of Hungary to participate in the exploration of the Nigeria’s Liquefied Natural Gas (NLG) by joining the efforts.
Present at the meeting were the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President Abubakar Kachallah, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nurudeen Muhammad, Nigerian Ambassador to Hungary Eddy Onuoha, his Hungarian counterpart Maris Zsolt, Hungarian Chief of Cabinet, Benko Nrilard, Consul General Endre Deri and First Secretary Bela Becker amongst others.
