The High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Humphrey Geiseb, has marked his country’s 35th anniversary of independence and commended Nigeria’s role in the struggle.
In his remarks on the occasion of Namibia’s 35th Independence Anniversary in Abuja, Nigeria, Geiseb emphasised that Namibia’s struggle for independence would not have succeeded without the support of its global allies, with Nigeria being a key partner in this effort.
“Nigeria made a monumental contribution through political, economic, diplomatic, and logistical support to the Namibian cause. During the 1960s to the 1980s, Nigeria provided a welcoming home to many Namibians, particularly students who were trained in Nigerian institutions.
“The support of Nigeria and other frontline states was crucial in providing material assistance to the liberation movements in Southern Africa, and Nigeria was a steadfast ally in the diplomatic struggles of oppressed peoples across the continent.”
Geiseb noted that Namibia continues to enjoy peace and political stability, with socio-economic development visible in various sectors. For the past 35 years, Namibia has remained free from internal conflict.
However, challenges like unemployment and poverty still persist.
“While the Namibian government has made significant strides in lifting many people out of poverty, the task ahead remains daunting. Nevertheless, these challenges are not insurmountable, and the government is committed to improving the living standards of all Namibians.
“In five years, we will take stock of the progress made under Vision 2030, as Namibia aims to attain high middle-income status, with several key development indicators already pointing in the right direction. Despite the challenges, Namibia is already recognized as a high middle-income country.”
He expressed sincere appreciation to the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the successful outcomes of the 5th Session of the Namibia-Nigeria Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation, which took place in February 2025.
“This session, held in Namibia, marked the resumption of dialogue between our two countries after 15 years. The discussions were productive and have taken our bilateral cooperation to new heights, with new mechanisms in place to strengthen our relations.
“Namibia is proud to host two Nigerian companies in the charcoal industry, namely Premier Charcoal and King Charcoal, both of which are making significant strides in exporting quality charcoal to the international market.
“Namibia also exports salt worth approximately 5 to 6 million US dollars annually to Nigeria. We look forward to expanding our trade relations and hope that Nigerian products will soon be available in Namibian supermarkets,” he added.
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