Nigeria is taking a broad security and development agenda to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Nigerian delegation is led by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sola Enikanolaiye.
Government said its participation would focus on humanitarian response, youth empowerment, investment and regional security.
The minister said Nigeria intended to use the meeting to pursue practical partnerships rather than ideological or religious objectives.
The agenda is being framed around the administration’s foreign policy priorities of demography, development, diaspora and democracy.
One proposal is the establishment of a Nigeria OIC Working Group on Humanitarian Affairs.
Government believes the mechanism could strengthen cooperation in responding to insecurity and humanitarian emergencies in the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel.
Potential areas of cooperation include rehabilitation of displaced communities, interfaith dialogue and efforts against terrorism and violent extremism.
The initiative comes as conflict and displacement continue to affect several countries in the region.
Nigeria also intends to use the OIC platform for economic diplomacy.
The delegation is expected to present investment opportunities connected with the government’s economic reform programme.
The Federal Government said membership of the 57 nation organization could provide access to additional development, humanitarian and investment partnerships.
The effectiveness of the initiative will depend on whether discussions at the ministerial meeting lead to concrete financing, programmes and institutional cooperation.
