German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Arrives Nigeria Tomorrow

*To attend Nigeria-German Business Conference in Lagos 

*CEOs of 30 top companies in entourage

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Olaf Scholz, will arrive Abuja tomorrow on a two-day visit to Nigeria, October 29 to 30.
According to a statement from the Embassy of Germany in Nigeria, the visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations between Germany and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This is the first visit of a German Head of Government to Nigeria since the inauguration of the Tinubu government.
The statement said: “With diplomatic relations spanning over 60 years, Germany and Nigeria have a warm and long-standing relationship. They are natural partners as both are the strongest economy and the most populous country on their respective continents.

“This visit intends to accentuate Germany’s appreciation for the strong partnership over the years, and underlines the importance the German government places on Nigeria’s role in the region and globally.”
The statement said while in the country, Chancellor Olaf Scholz will meet with President Bola Tinubu and the ECOWAS Commission President, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray in Abuja.

He will then proceed to Lagos where he will open a Nigeria-German Business Conference organised by the Nigerian-German Chamber of Commerce.
“While in Lagos, he will interface with representatives of Nigerian civil society, as well as with Nigerian start-up entrepreneurs. Along with the delegation, Chancellor Scholz will take part in a tour of the city of Lagos to gain insights into the challenges and opportunities presented by a megacity such as Lagos.

“Chancellor Scholz will be accompanied by a delegation of high-ranking German business people including CEOs of some of the highest-valued German companies, as well as by a cultural delegation. This is because the visit is also geared at intensifying the relations in the economic and cultural sectors and exploring opportunities for investment in Nigeria,” the statement said.
The German Embassy in Nigeria said it is honoured to welcome Chancellor Scholz and looks forward to continuing to work on strengthening both nations’ important and warm bilateral relations.

Scholz has been serving as the Chancellor of Germany since December 8, 2021.
A member of the Social Democratic Party, Scholz previously served as Vice Chancellor in Merkel’s fourth cabinet and as Federal Minister of Finance from 2018 to 2021.

He was born on June 14, 1958, in Osnabrück, Lower Saxony, but grew up in Hamburg’s Rahlstedt district. He began studying law at the University of Hamburg in 1978 as part of a one-stage legal training course.
From May to October 2001, he was Minister of the Interior (Innensenator) of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and from 2002 to 2004, he was general secretary of the SPD.

In 2005, Scholz was elected a member of the 16th Bundestag, and succeeded Franz Müntefering as Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, when the latter left office in 2007. In 2010, Scholz took part in the annual Bilderberg Meeting in Sitges, Catalonia, Spain.
On February 20, 2011, the Social Democrats, led by Scholz, won the Hamburg state election, 2011 with 48.3% of the votes, resulting in 62 out of 121 seats in the Hamburg Parliament. Scholz resigned as a member of the 17th Bundestag on March 11, 2011 shortly after his election as First Mayor.