By Gabriel Ameh
Nigeria and Iran have signaled renewed commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across critical sectors, including infrastructure, energy, agriculture, healthcare, education, and science and technology.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, received Iran’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, where both sides reviewed existing relations and discussed pathways for expanded engagement.
During the meeting, Ambassador Mahdavi conveyed greetings from Tehran and described Nigeria as strategically important to Iran’s Africa policy, particularly within the West African sub-region.
He called for strengthened diplomatic representation in both capitals, the convening of the 7th Nigeria Iran Joint Commission in Abuja, and the activation of a Political Consultation mechanism to enhance structured dialogue between the two countries.
The Iranian envoy also pointed to potential collaboration in cancer treatment services and scholarship opportunities for Nigerian students.
In her remarks, Odumegwu-Ojukwu congratulated the Ambassador on his appointment and reaffirmed Nigeria’s longstanding diplomatic ties with Iran, which date back to 1973.
She emphasized the need to convert diplomatic goodwill into measurable outcomes through structured platforms such as the Joint Commission.
Both countries reiterated their commitment to constructive engagement, South-South cooperation, and collaboration in multilateral forums, signaling a shared intention to further consolidate Nigeria–Iran relations.
