By Shola Abayomi.
President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to depart Abuja today to attend the 14th session of the Summit Conference of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), scheduled to hold on Friday, May 31, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
The Summit Conference of the OIC will be hosted by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and attended by Heads of State and Governments of Member States.
In a statement issued yesterday by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the president, Garba Shehu, the Presidency disclosed that the president would be in Makkah to attend the Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
“The 14th session of the Summit Conference of the OIC, scheduled to hold on Friday, May 31, will be hosted by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and attended by Heads of State and governments of member states.
“According to the OIC secretariat, the summit to be convened under the theme, ‘Makkah al-Mukarramah Summit: Hand in Hand toward the Future’, seeks to develop a unified stance on events in the Islamic world.
“President Buhari is expected to address the forum and underscore the need for member countries to unite and work together to combat common challenges such as terrorism and violent extremism.
“The President will also push forward themes that have been at the forefront of his domestic and international priorities, including reviving the Lake Chad Basin, investing in Nigeria to create jobs and financing for development,” the statement added.
The 14th Summit of the OIC is to be convened under the theme, “Makkah al-Mukarramah Summit: Hand in Hand toward the Future.” It seeks to develop a unified stance on events in the Islamic world.
According to the statement, “President Buhari is expected to address the forum and underscore the need for member countries to unite and work together to combat common challenges such as terrorism and violent extremism.
“The President will also push forward themes that have been at the forefront of his domestic and international priorities, including reviving the Lake Chad Basin, investing in Nigeria to create jobs and financing for development.”
As part of activities lined up for the president, Buhari will hold bilateral meetings with world leaders to promote increased cooperation and collaboration on issues of mutual concern.
President Buhari is expected to return to the country on Sunday, June 2. He will be accompanied by Governors Mohammed Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State and Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State.
Also on the delegation are the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mustapha Suleiman; Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar; Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Isa Ali Pantami; and the Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Abdullahi Mukthar.