By Gabriel Ameh
ABUJA — The Ghana High Commission in Abuja has presented a commemorative cake to Nigeria as part of activities marking Nigeria’s Independence Anniversary, in a gesture described by officials as a symbol of the longstanding friendship and solidarity between the two countries.
The cake was presented to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, October 1, 2026, during an interaction that highlighted the historic, diplomatic, economic and cultural ties between Nigeria and Ghana.
Receiving the gift, Ambassador Enikanolaiye described the presentation as unusual and historically significant, saying he could not recall a similar gesture by a diplomatic mission during his years in the diplomatic service.
He said the gesture reflected the depth of the relationship between the two West African countries, which share a history of cooperation and common aspirations.
According to him, Nigeria and Ghana must continue to maintain dialogue and negotiate differences while protecting their respective national interests.
Nigeria, Ghana seek to prevent diplomatic tensions
Ambassador Enikanolaiye said both countries needed to work harder to prevent disagreements from escalating into situations that could affect public confidence in the relationship.
“We need to work harder to ensure that irritants in this relationship are prevented from snowballing into situations in which our peoples begin to question the basis and rationale of a relationship that had so long been nourished by our forefathers,” he said.
He stressed the importance of keeping communication channels open between the two countries, particularly on issues affecting Nigerians and Ghanaians.
The ambassador also commended Ghana’s position on efforts to address attacks against Africans in South Africa, saying Nigeria considered the term Afrophobia more appropriate in describing attacks against fellow Africans.
“What is going on is totally unacceptable. It is barbaric. The punishment for irregular migration is certainly not death. The punishment for criminality where guilt has not been proven in court is also not death. We believe that the rule of law must be allowed to prevail,” he said.
Nigeria to reactivate Joint Commissions
Enikanolaiye disclosed that Nigeria was reactivating its Joint Commissions, beginning with countries in West Africa, including Ghana and the Alliance of Sahel States — Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
He said the platforms would provide opportunities for sustained discussions on issues including economic development, security and defence.
“Countries do not choose their neighbours and must therefore continue to collaborate,” he said.
The ambassador also commended Ghana’s historical role in efforts at the United Nations to have colonialism recognised as a crime against humanity and its advocacy for reparations.
He said Nigeria would continue working with Ghana on issues considered important to both countries and the wider African continent.
Ghana: Nigeria and Ghana are ‘members of the same family’
Earlier, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu, described Nigeria and Ghana as members of the same family, noting that the relationship between the two countries extends beyond government-to-government engagement.
He said the cake presentation reflected the long-standing cultural, economic and diplomatic connections between the two countries.
According to him, Nigeria remains one of Ghana’s major sources of investment, while Ghanaian businesses and investors also maintain a strong presence in Nigeria.
The High Commissioner traced aspects of the relationship to Ghana’s former President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who visited Nigeria in February 1959 and met with Nigerian leaders, including Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, during the independence era.
He urged younger generations to build on the foundation established by the countries’ founding leaders.
Abu also pointed to the strong social and cultural links between Nigerians and Ghanaians, including music, football, social media interactions and the popular “Jollof Wars”.
The event also featured a light-hearted exchange over football rivalry, with the High Commissioner presenting a Ghanaian football jersey to Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
The gesture added a sporting dimension to the diplomatic engagement and reflected the friendly competition that has become part of the relationship between Nigerians and Ghanaians.
Ambassador Enikanolaiye thanked the Ghana High Commission for the gesture and said Nigeria would continue to support efforts aimed at strengthening relations between both countries.
“On behalf of the Ministry and on behalf of the Hon Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, I want to sincerely appreciate this gesture. It is an extraordinary show of warmth and solidarity,” he said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening its historic and strategic partnership with Ghana for the benefit of both countries and the wider African continent.
Credit/Source: Office of the Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja.
Signed by: Raphael Oni, Special Assistant, Digital Media and Public Diplomacy.
Date: October 1, 2026.
