2022: Trade turnover between Nigeria and Bulgaria increased by 1,010 % - Ambassador

Bulgarian Ambassador to Nigeria, Yanko Yordanov, at the weekend said trade turnover between Nigeria and Bulgaria increased by 1,010 percent in 2022. He said this in Lagos at a symposium organized by the Alumni Association of the U.S. Government Exchange Program in Nigeria, where he highlighted his achievements as Ambassador and the efforts being made to develop relations between Bulgaria and Nigeria.

"Since I have been here, we have doubled the trade turnover between Nigeria and Bulgaria. If you compare the statistics of 2022 with 2021, you will see an increase of 1,010 percent in trade turnover, which I think is a significant achievement and one of the results of the visit of the honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria to Bulgaria last year," he said.

"We are about to conclude negotiations on new scholarship programs between Nigeria and Bulgaria. And I believe that once they are completed, that will be the most important accomplishment of my time here because we will have established collaborations in critical areas of education such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and other areas. Definitely, I believe we will announce a lot of exciting things soon," he added.

Speaking on the importance of alma mater and almanac exchange, he said: "We may have only one foreign ambassador in the country, but through this alma mater association, I have 4,000 Bulgarian ambassadorial representatives in Nigeria, which is beneficial to both countries. They will help promote Bulgaria and revive memories. Bulgaria is a valuable partner with a proven track record of partnership and cooperation. For instance, it was Bulgaria that built the National Theater of Lagos, which was built by a Bulgarian, but that is a fact that has been largely forgotten.

The keynote speaker, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oyo State, Prof. Edward Oyewo, who spoke on the theme, "Developing Cross-Country Alumni Relationships," also emphasized the importance of alma mater and exchange associations, where he described how his stay as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of California, Los Angeles, from 1989 to 1990, helped create many relationships in the academic and career spheres.

He said: "In California, I met 100 other Fulbright Scholars from around the world, and I maintain relationships with five or six of them from Bulgaria, France, the United States and other countries. Thus, cross-country relationships are built at the interpersonal, professional and business levels. "

The President of the United States Government Exchange Alumni Association (USGEAA), Mike Okwoche, has expressed gratitude to the Bulgarian Ambassador for Bulgaria's cooperation with Nigeria in the past decades. He expressed optimism about the outcome of the symposium, which he said would create diverse opportunities through partnership and collaboration for members of the US Alumni Association in Nigeria and the Bulgarian government.

The USGEAA Information Secretary, Wofai Samuel, said: "The U.S. Government Exchange Program Alumni Association has a mission to strengthen interaction, networking and opportunities between members and the U.S. Consulate General in Nigeria. I am proud that we have reached a new level, this time developing Eastern European cooperation for our members and, above all, for such a productive country as Bulgaria.

"For alumni who want to study or seek other opportunities in Bulgaria, it was a great platform for interaction. The same is true for Bulgarians who would like to visit and cooperate with Nigerians.".