Botswana ready to co-operate with Nigeria in Wild Life Conservation and other areas

The very first High Commissioner to be appointed for Nigeria by the Southern African country of Botswana, His Excellency, Mr. Clifford Maribe has declared his country's willingness to partner with Nigeria in developing the country's tourism sector through wildlife conservation.

He made the declaration during a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili at the latter's Radio House, Garki, Abuja Office today, Friday, July 2, 2010. Mr. Maribe declared that the primary purpose of his visit was to congratulate the Hon. Minister on her re – appointment as well as explore areas of mutually beneficial co – operation between both countries. The High Commissioner showed effusive gratitude to the government and people of Nigeria for what he called the “beneficial assistance” extended to his country by Nigeria. He traced the warm relationship that exists between both countries to the 1970s.

The High Commissioner informed that his country had the largest elephant population of 60,000 in the whole world and that the bulk of these were to be found in the Okubango Region. This large elephant population, in addition to complementary strides in wildlife and other resource conservation, according to Mr. Maribe, were the reasons Bostwana's tourism sector was the third largest contributor to the country's GDP after diamond mining and beef export. His country, he offered, was ready to share experiences with Nigeria in order to develop the latter's tourism industry and enhance its contribution to the GDP.

Tracing the warm relationship between both countries to the 1970s, the High Commissioner declared that Botswana was also ready to support Nigeria's effort to counter the latter's negative image in the international arena.

In her response, the Hon. Minister congratulated Mr. Maribe on his historic appointment as the first Botswana High Commissioner to Nigeria. She expressed delight at his offer to support Nigeria in her self re – branding campaign while stating her own willingness to sustain a dialogue with the High Commissioner in a bid to fashion areas of mutual co – operation and assistance between the two countries.