Vice President of the Republic of Colombia, Francia Márquez, arrived in Abuja today, August 30, 2025, for a three-day official visit to Nigeria, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties. She landed at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, welcomed by a delegation including the Ministers of Innovation, Science and Technology, Women Affairs, and State for the Federal Capital Territory, alongside the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency. The visit, running until September 2, aims to deepen cooperation in trade, agriculture, energy, education, security, and women’s empowerment, reflecting a push for enhanced South-South collaboration as confirmed by Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The agenda includes high-level meetings with Kashim Shettima and a Nigeria-Colombia Business Forum to explore opportunities in key sectors, signaling a new chapter in diplomatic and economic relations. Accompanied by her spouse and a team of cabinet ministers and business leaders, Márquez’s visit underscores Colombia’s growing engagement with Africa, building on recent embassy openings in Senegal and Ethiopia. Local officials expect the discussions to yield memorandums of understanding, boosting non-oil exports and cultural exchanges, though specifics on outcomes remain pending as talks begin this evening.
