The President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Joachim Gauck, arrived in Nigeria yesterday for a 4-day official visit.
President Gauck was a guest of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos yesterday. He pledged his country’s technical support to Nigeria in the fight against terrorism. He expressed the willingness of Germany to share its experiences in the field of science and technology, especially in the areas of capacity building.
The German President accompanied by an economic delegation which will engage their Nigerian counterparts in various discussions on bilateral issues. In the course of the visit, there shall also be meetings “with religious leaders and representatives of civil society.”
The German President who is visiting Nigeria for the first time, will be having a special meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari later in the week, expressed confidence in the steps being taken by the present government in the country to address the nation’s challenges.
The German president shall deliver a “speech at the headquarters of the West African Economic Community (ECOWAS) in Abuja.”
In a press release by the German Embassy, Abuja, it is stated that, “During discussions in the capital Abuja, the challenges posed by international terrorism, dealing with refugees and displacement as well as issues of poverty reduction and economic development will play a key role.”
The official visit to Nigeria will end on the 12 February.
Gauck was born on January 24, 1940. He became the President of Germany in March 2012. He was a former Lutheran pastor who came to prominence as an anti-communist civil rights activist in former East Germany
