THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Germany, HE Senator Ita Enang, has arrived in Berlin to begin preparations for his diplomatic assignment, marking the start of a new chapter in relations between Nigeria and one of its most important European partners.
The former senator and presidential adviser landed in the German capital accompanied by his wife, Dr Rosemary Ita Enang on 11 June. He was received by representatives of the German Federal Foreign Office, HE Igor Cesar, the Ambassador of Rwanda to Germany on behalf of the African diplomatic corps in Berlin, and senior officials of the Nigerian Embassy.
Following his arrival, embassy staff and members of the Nigerian community in Germany hosted a reception in his honour at Berlin’s historic Hotel Bristol.
Enang’s posting to Germany follows a diplomatic reshuffle approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May. Under the original ambassadorial postings announced earlier this year, former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode had been assigned to Germany, while Enang was designated for South Africa. The President subsequently approved a swap of the two appointments, resulting in Enang’s deployment to Berlin and Fani-Kayode’s reassignment to Pretoria. According to Fani-Kayode, the change followed his request to serve in South Africa instead of Germany, a preference he attributed to personal and strategic considerations.
In remarks following his arrival, Enang expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him through the appointment. He also thanked Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and ministry officials, for their support throughout the process.
As ambassador-designate, Enang said he intends to focus on strengthening cooperation between Nigeria and Germany in areas such as trade, investment, economic development, education, technology, cultural exchange and people-to-people relations.
Germany is Nigeria’s largest trading partner in the European Union and a key destination for Nigerian students, professionals and migrants. The two countries cooperate closely in renewable energy, vocational training, migration management and economic development, making Berlin one of Nigeria’s most strategically important diplomatic postings in Europe.
Enang brings extensive experience in public service to the role. He represented Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly and later served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs. Over the years, he has built a reputation in legislative, legal and public policy circles, experience that observers say could prove valuable in advancing Nigeria’s interests in Germany.
Before formally assuming full diplomatic duties, Enang is expected to present his Letters of Credence to the President of Germany, the final diplomatic step required for him to be officially recognised as Nigeria’s ambassador in Berlin.
With his arrival in Germany, attention will now turn to how he intends to deepen economic and political ties between the two countries at a time of growing cooperation in trade, energy transition, skilled migration and investment.
Sola Jolaoso
