Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate, arrived in Geneva, Switzerland on Friday to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 148th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Akpabio was accompanied on the trip by the House of Representatives’ Deputy Speaker, Hon Benjamin Kalu, and Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Switzerland, Abiodun Richards Adejola, welcomed the Senate president and his entourage upon arrival at Geneva’s airport, joined by South African Ambassador to Switzerland, Mr. Mxolisi Nkosi.
According to a statement from Jackson Udom, Special Assistant on Media to the Senate President, this year’s edition will be held from March 23rd to March 27th, 2024.
A letter addressed to the Nigerian Senate President and endorsed by the IPU Secretary General, Martin Chungong, reads: “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, March 23rd to Wednesday, March 27th, 2024.
“We are glad to attach extensive information on these meetings, including agendas for the IPU statutory bodies. We really hope that your parliament will be represented in the 148th Assembly, and that the delegation led by you will actively participate in the proceedings.
Nigeria broke a 59-year-old jinx at the last edition of the IPU, which was held in Luanda, Angola, by electing Akpabio to the Executive Committee of the global legislative body. Nigeria last served on the IPU’s Executive Committee in 1964.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a global organisation of national parliaments, was founded in 1889 and is dedicated to fostering peace via parliamentary diplomacy and debate. It has grown into a genuinely global organisation, with 179 members from 193 nations worldwide.
On March 7, 2024, the African Parliamentary Union (APU) nominated Akpabio to the Preparatory Committee for the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament of the IPU.
The International Parliamentary Union fosters parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to achieve global peace, democracy, and sustainable development.