By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The Acting Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to Nigeria, Mr. Iacopo Foti, said Nigeria is a land of incredible diversity dynamic energy, and immense
potential.
Amb Foti stated this during the commemoration of his country’s (Italian)79th democracy anniversary day “la Festa della Repubblica”, our National
Day” recently in Abuja .
Speaking in his address, he said
“To my fellow Italians, you are ambassadors of our culture, our values and our industrious spirit.
“Your dedication, your hard work, and your integration into the Nigerian Society are a source of great pride for our nation. Thank you for representing Italy so admirably
“As I always like to say,like Nigerians do, to all the Italians in Nigeria: “Well Done”.
He said, “You have brought to Nigeria ltalian food products, marbles and stones, design, fashion, advanced technology
and know-how.
“You manufactured, built, cooked and contributed significantly to the dynamic changes this country went through over the course of 60 plus years of independence, and before that”.
He said “we are optimistic about the future of Italy-Nigeria
relations. There is so much more we can achieve together.
“We can deepen
our economic partnerships, our scientific and technology collaboration and of course we can expand and intensify our cultural and academic
exchanges”.
He reiterated that “Nigeria could be a cultural superpower through its art, books and films, as
it is very much a leading light both in Africa and worldwide, while Italy is a world cultural superpower which now looks toward the African continent
with renovate interest.
“We acknowledge the Nigerian appetite and demand for Italian culture, from fashion to design, from cinema to artistic tourism. Italy is home to the third largest worldwide Nigerian community abroad after United States
and United Kingdom. “Italians appreciate the Nigerian people and their vibrant and diverse culture shaped by its numerous ethnic and religious
groups”, he emphasized.
He also appreciated the Nigerian authorities for celebrating with his country saying that this is a
testimony to the strength of our bilateral relationship.
“Your commitment to fostering this friendship is deeply appreciated. We are grateful for the suppot and cooperation we receive daily from the Nigerian government and its people.
“Let us reaffirm our commitment to working together for a brighter future for both our nations”, he stated.
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