Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State on Monday received the Governor of Bengo Province, Angola, Dr. Maria Antonio, on an official visit aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation between the state and the Angolan province, particularly in agriculture, education, and other key sectors.
Welcoming the delegation in Lafia, Gov. Sule also received the Angolan Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. José Bamoquina-Zau, alongside other members of the Angolan team.
He described the visit as a significant step toward translating existing bilateral agreements into concrete developmental outcomes.
The governor recalled that a Nasarawa State delegation, led by him, visited Angola in September as part of efforts to strengthen the bilateral agreement earlier signed between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria and President João Lourenço of Angola.
He noted that the return visit by the Bengo Province delegation was to finalise arrangements for implementation.
According to Sule, Bengo Province was deliberately chosen because of its similarities with Nasarawa State, including proximity to national capitals—Luanda and Abuja—and strong agricultural potential.
He said both regions also share common interests in mineral development, including marble and other solid minerals.
“Our intention was to ensure that the agreement does not remain on paper but translates into real benefits for our people,” the governor said.
He disclosed that the Nasarawa State Government had secured approval from Nigeria’s Ministry of External Affairs to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bengo Province on Tuesday, Dec. 16. Sule explained that the initiative was part of his administration’s drive to internationalise Nasarawa’s economy and attract foreign direct investment.
The governor expressed optimism that the agreement would stimulate economic growth, enhance knowledge exchange, and create opportunities for educational and technical exchange programmes between both regions.
In her remarks, Dr. Maria Antonio commended the Nasarawa State Government for the warm reception accorded to her delegation and expressed confidence that the partnership would yield mutual benefits.
She noted that her team included senior officials such as the Angolan Ambassador to Nigeria, directors from Bengo Province’s Integrated Development Cabinet, Press Directorate, and Judicial Cabinet.
Antonio said the agreement would strengthen cooperation between Nigeria and Angola at sub-national levels, foster friendship, and encourage the sharing of experiences for sustainable development.
“This cooperation between our people will go a long way in advancing the development of our two regions,” she said, adding that her delegation had received approval from the Angolan President to sign the agreement as a follow-up to the existing bilateral pact between both countries.
