The Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ diplomatic missions in Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Nigeria in areas such as education, trade, and investment.

The association made the pledge in Abuja on Thursday night during the ‘Essence of ASEAN’ festival reception hosted by the high commission of Malaysia in Nigeria in partnership with embassies of The Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

ASEAN is a regional grouping of 10 states in Southeast Asia that aims to promote economic and security cooperation among its ten members.

High commissioner of Malaysia, Aiyub Omar, who is also the current chairman of the ASEAN Committee in Abuja, highlighted the festival’s importance in fostering understanding and collaboration between ASEAN member countries and Nigeria.

“Malaysia has been a partner to Nigeria since 1965, and this year marks the 60th anniversary of our bilateral relations.

“This festival aims to raise awareness of ASEAN’s cultural offerings and opportunities in Nigeria, where interest in travel to Malaysia has surged, with over 300 applications from Nigerians to visit the country each month with more than 3,000 Nigerians currently studying in Malaysian universities, both public and private,” he said.

According to him, ASEAN diplomatic missions rotate the chairmanship every six months, which helps maintain a dynamic engagement among member states.

Philippines ambassador Mersole Mellejor called for greater awareness of ASEAN among Nigerians, stating that efforts must be made to increase exposure and understanding of ASEAN’s aspirations as a vital partner to Africa.

“The common people of Nigeria need to know what ASEAN represents our aspirations,” he said.

He also emphasised the importance of increasing ASEAN’s visibility and engagement with Nigeria, recognising the potential of collaborating within a collective market of nearly one billion people across ASEAN and West Africa.

Bui Quoc Hung, Vietnamese ambassador to Nigeria, highlighted the festival’s role in promoting the unique cultures, traditions, and cuisines of the ten ASEAN countries.

He expressed optimism about the potential for increased engagement, particularly with Nigeria, which he described as a resilient nation.

“This festival also marks the upcoming official membership of Timor-Leste in ASEAN, which underlines the growing influence of the regional bloc,” Mr Hung said.

Laksanavadee Kaewkramol, Thailand’s charge d’affaires, thanked the Malaysian high commissioner for organising the event and showcasing ASEAN’s cultural richness.

“With over 600 million people, ASEAN is one of the most dynamic regions in the world,” she stated.

She also underscored the ongoing expansion of trade and investment relationships with Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, emphasising the importance of people-to-people exchanges.

(NAN)