Türkiye and Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening diplomatic, economic and cultural relations as both countries commemorate 66 years of formal diplomatic ties.
The Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a reception organised to celebrate the 103rd anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye.
Poroy recalled that diplomatic relations between both countries were formally established on November 9, 1960, barely one month after Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule.
He noted that the relationship had continued to develop across several sectors, guided by mutual respect, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation.
According to the ambassador, Türkiye remains committed to expanding its engagement with Nigeria and other African countries through peaceful coexistence, economic partnerships and international collaboration.
He also highlighted the philosophy of Türkiye’s founding father, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, whose guiding principle of “peace at home and peace in the world” continues to influence the country’s foreign policy.
The reception attracted diplomats, government representatives, institutional officials and other distinguished guests who gathered to celebrate Türkiye’s national day and reflect on its longstanding relationship with Nigeria.
In a video message presented at the event, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan congratulated citizens at home and abroad on the 103rd anniversary of the republic.
Erdoğan said the courage and determination demonstrated by the Turkish people during the country’s founding remained a source of national inspiration.
The anniversary comes amid renewed efforts by both countries to expand their strategic partnership following President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Türkiye in January 2026.
During the visit, Nigeria and Türkiye signed nine agreements and memoranda of understanding covering military cooperation, education, higher education, media and communication, diaspora affairs, diplomatic training, women’s affairs and halal accreditation.
Both governments also agreed to establish a Joint Economic and Trade Committee to strengthen commercial relations and create more opportunities for businesses and investors.
Economic relations have remained an important pillar of the partnership. More than 50 Turkish-owned companies operate in Nigeria, with investments estimated at approximately $400m, while Turkish contractors have undertaken projects valued at nearly $3bn.
Bilateral trade also reached $688.4m in the first 11 months of 2025, excluding the broader impact of energy transactions.
Education remains another important area of cooperation, with Nigerian students benefiting from Turkish government scholarship programmes since 1992.
As the two countries approach the November 9 anniversary, expectations are growing that the renewed diplomatic momentum will translate into stronger investment, employment opportunities, technology transfer and people-to-people exchanges.
For Nigeria and Türkiye, the 66-year partnership represents not merely a diplomatic milestone but an opportunity to build a more productive relationship capable of delivering tangible benefits to citizens of both nations.
