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Godswill Akpabio, Kalu Participate In IPU Meeting In Geneva

Published

9 months ago

Mar 22, 2024.

Godswill Akpabio along with Benjamin Kalu, attended the 148th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Akpabio and his delegations were welcomed by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Switzerland and the South African Ambassador.
He was nominated to the Preparatory Committee for the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament of the IPU.

Eko Hot Blog reports that on Friday, the President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, arrived in Geneva, Switzerland, for the 148th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

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The Senate President who led the Nigerian delegation was accompanied to the event by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong.

On arrival at the Geneva airport, Akpabio and his entourage were greeted by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Switzerland, Abiodun Richards Adejola, along with the South African Ambassador to Switzerland, Mr. Mxolisi Nkosi.

This year’s edition, as announced by Jackson Udom, the Special Assistant on Media to the Senate President, is scheduled to hold between March 23rd and March 27th, 2024.

A letter addressed to the Nigerian Senate President and endorsed by the Secretary General of the IPU, Martin Chungong, reads Inter alia: “Dear Mr President, the 148th Assembly of the IPU and related meetings will be held at the International Conference Centre of Geneva, (ICCG) Switzerland from Saturday, 23rd to Wednesday, 27th March, 2024.

“We are pleased to enclose detailed information on these meetings including the Agendas of the IPU statutory bodies. We very much hope that your parliament will be represented at the 148th Assembly and that the delegation under your leadership will take an active part in the proceedings.”

During the previous IPU session in Luanda, Angola, Nigeria achieved a significant milestone as Godswill Akpabio was elected to the Executive Committee of the global parliamentary body, breaking a 59-year-old streak.

Prior to this, Nigeria had last held a position on the IPU Executive Committee in 1964.

Established in 1889, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is a worldwide association of national parliaments committed to fostering peace through parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue.

Since its inception, it has evolved into a truly global entity, boasting 179 member countries out of the 193 nations across the world.

Godswill Akpabio had previously been nominated on 7th March 2024, by the African Parliamentary Union, APU, into the Preparatory Committee for the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament of the IPU.