Nigeria formally backed Egypt's candidate for UNESCO Director-General, Khaled El-Anany during a high-profile business forum in Abuja on Monday, in a show of growing diplomatic and economic alignment between two of Africa's largest economies. The endorsement was announced by Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar during the opening of the Egypt-Nigeria Business Forum, attended by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty, El-Anany, and senior representatives from both governments and private sectors. Tuggar expressed full support for El-Anany's candidacy in the October 2025 UNESCO election, praising his credentials and reaffirming Nigeria's commitment to strengthening cooperation with Egypt across multiple sectors. The forum also served as a platform to boost trade and investment flows. Minister Abdel-Aty underscored Egypt's commitment to deepening economic integration with Nigeria, identifying agriculture, pharmaceuticals, mining, and manufacturing as key sectors for joint investment. He pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a strategic opportunity to unlock new market access and reduce trade barriers. "Egypt is ready to provide all the necessary facilitation and support to Nigerian businesses," Minister Abdel-Aty said in a ministerial statement, citing ongoing reforms, expanded industrial capacity, and mega infrastructure projects aimed at attracting investment. Both sides emphasised the importance of removing regulatory and logistical bottlenecks to accelerate bilateral trade and maximise mutual gains. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
