The determination of President Muhammadu Buhari to put square pegs in square holes in his ministerial appointments may have paid off as Nigeria emerges the sought after bride at the ongoing climate change negotiations in Paris, France.
Contrary to the undesirable and unenviable position of Nigeria in previous climate change talks, Nigeria has emerged as the leading negotiator for Africa and a much sought after party for other countries. This change it was learnt has to do with the international clout of the Minister for the Environment, Amina Mohammed.
Prior to her appointment, Mohammed has been a special adviser to the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon on the Millennium Development Goal and a well-respected figure in the international community of social and development work.
Unlike in the last two climate change conferences where no pavilion or offices were allotted to the country, Nigeria has a strategic office in Paris, a situation which registered her seriousness and announced her return to the international community.
Also, a steady stream of international companies and governments of developed nations wishing to do business with Nigeria have been trooping into the Nigerian pavilion to talk with the minister. The Nation observed at least six different delegations which visited the Minister on Saturday to discuss bilateral issues with a view to investing in the country.
According to a source, who was knowledgeable about the visits, Nigeria has announced her strong arrival in the committee of nations to be taken seriously by the way the country has conducted herself at the climate talks.
“ They see we are serious, gone are the days when Nigeria would have no office and the officials would only be roaming around. Now we are serious and the international community has noticed. All these people are coming because they want to come into Nigeria, the clout and integrity of our Minister also counts because the international community would only do business with someone they know and trust and she is one,” the source said.
Nigeria also has a lean delegation with only about 40 officials sponsored to the climate talks, it was learnt that only those who are essential to the meeting were sponsored to Paris. It was also observed that the officials have conducted themselves in a respectable manner, promptly attending to visitors in a business-like but friendly manner, a situation which was almost unheard of.
“Things have changed as you can see, this is no longer a market place where officials would be laughing and joking without doing the work. Now Nigeria is open for business and we have registered our presence to the world in a big way,” a source said.
The Nation.
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