ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA — Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, on Monday, held a bilateral meeting with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, ahead of the Forty-Ninth (49th) Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council.
In a post shared on X, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said discussions centered on Nigeria’s role within the African Union, the appointment of Nigerians into the AU system, regional political developments, and Africa’s socio-economic future.
Sahel, Security, and Regional Leadership
The two leaders exchanged perspectives on the evolving situation in West Africa and the Sahel, with focus on prevailing peace, security and humanitarian challenges.
The AU Chairperson commended Nigeria’s “longstanding leadership role within both the AU and ECOWAS” in the fight against terrorism and its “pivotal role in promoting regional peace, stability and integration.”
AI, Jobs, and African-Led Development
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf noted that Africa faces significant demographic and economic pressures. He stressed the importance of innovation, job creation, agriculture, services, and investment in artificial intelligence as essential drivers of sustainable development.
The Chairperson observed that Africa has “not invested sufficiently in artificial intelligence” and commended the investments of the Dangote Group across the continent as an example of African-led industrial development.
“Such investments are advancing regional integration, strengthening industrialisation and self-reliance in strategic sectors, and creating employment opportunities across the continent,” he stated, according to the Minister.
The meeting held on the sidelines of the 49th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council in Addis Ababa.
