ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Boris Johnson, a former United Kingdom Prime Minister, has made a case for a stronger mutually-benefitting relationship between Nigeria and Britain.
The former Prime Minister said the relationship would further unleash potentials of both countries.
Johnson spoke in Lagos on Monday, at the 16th Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe lecture series which had the theme, ‘Rehumanising Huaman Experience’.
In his keynote address, Johnson, who is still a serving member of the British parliament said: “Now is the time. When the world is so uncertain, when some nations are disentangling, now is the time for the UK and Nigeria, two great democracies to work together.
“Nigeria can be a renewable superpower and still be a producer of oil and gas. We could be much more together.”
He said other areas for continued collaborations include the ideas of free trade, free speech, free elections.
Apart from seeking closer Nigeria-UK ties, Johnson also urged countries to unleash the potentials of their citizens by prioritizing education.
“You need a society that is opened and that is tolerant to develop human potentials,” he said, adding that “urban successes are built on freedom under the law”.
Former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, set the tone by speaking about the legacies of the former PM and how he’s made the welfare of the people a priority.
“He’s a remarkable British politician and leader. He has so far left legacies in modern British politics. He was the Prime Minister who followed the decision of the majority of the British people…it was he therefore (in popular parlance) who got Brexit done.
“I believe if we were to effectively pursue the theme of this 16th lecture series of the Osigwe anyiam-Osigwe, namely: ‘Rehumanising Human Experience,’ consideration of the comprehensive welfare of the people should be the bedrock of policies and actions of politicians and actions across the world,” Chief Anyaoku said.
The high profile event, attended by national and global leaders in politics, focused on developing human potentials.
Others present are President-Elect Bola Tinubu, represented by Former Deputy Governor Femi Pedro; presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat.