The Permanent Secretary of Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Ambassador Sheila Sealy Monteith is calling for strengthened collaboration and relations between Nigeria and Jamaica.

Ambassador Monteith, who is currently on a working visit to Nigeria made the call during courtesy visit on Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Ibiene Roberts at her office in the capital of Abuja.

In her remarks, Ambassador Monteith highlighted the unique and enduring bond between Nigeria and Jamaica. “I am here to nurture our relationship, as Nigeria holds a special place in Jamaica’s diplomatic landscape. This visit underscores our commitment to deepening collaboration in areas of mutual interest,” she emphasized.

Ambassador Monteith acknowledged the range of bilateral agreements already in place between the two countries, including the Technical Aid Program, the Jamaica-Nigeria Partnership on Film Cooperation, the bilateral cultural relations agreement established in 1991, and the 2022 draft Memorandum of Understanding on cultural relations.

Ambassador Monteith outlined Jamaica’s ambitious roadmap for tourism development under the “TAG Vision 2030” plan, which aligns closely with Nigeria’s “Destination 2030” tourism initiative spearheaded by Roberts.

In response, Permanent Secretary Roberts expressed appreciation for the visit lauding Jamaica’s enduring support for Nigeria, particularly in capacity building for tourism statistics, cultural heritage, and digital archiving. She reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to fostering these bonds, emphasizing the shared benefits of these collaborations for both nations’ cultural and tourism sectors.

To further fortify ties, Permanent Secretary Roberts extended an invitation to Ambassador Monteith to attend the 2024 Abuja International Carnival, slated for November 22–26, at Eagle Square, Abuja.