Xenophobia: Nigeria, S’ Africa To Cement Relations Through Cultural Diplomacy

The Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of South Africa yesterday resolved to use cultural exchanges to cement relationships among their people and end xenophobia.
The agreement was reached in Lagos at a meeting between Nigeria Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the South Africa Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane.
Speaking at the event, Mohammed said that Nigeria would continue to explore culture and tourism as veritable platforms to strengthen its ties with South Africa.
“We have always believed that culture and tourism are very effective platforms and avenues for cementing the relationship between the two countries.
“A few years back, we did actually put in motion the machinery for cultural exchanges between Nigeria and South Africa and we are still working on it.
“We believe that a lot of issues can be resolved when we bring to South Africa our very popular artistes because I am told that a few Nigerian musicians are extremely popular in South Africa and vice versa,” he said.
The minister said that in the wake of recent happenings in South Africa, such engagements and visitations at the highest level of government would inspire the citizens of both nations to continue to work harmoniously and live in peace.
After a closed-door meeting with his counterpart, Mohammed told newsmen that they resolved to strengthen ties between the two countries. “We discussed and we have really seen that more things unite us than those that divide us.
“We have resolved at least at the level of the leadership, to ensure that the good ties between Nigeria and South Africa continue.
“We also resolved to inspire our people by example to continue to work together and live as brothers and sisters, which they have done for many years,” he said.
On her part, Kubayi-Ngubane emphasised the need for cultural exchanges between the citizens of the two countries as a deliberate policy to strengthen the bond between them.