Buhari departs for Rwanda to attend commonwealth meeting
President Muhammadu Buhari will on Wednesday, June 22, depart Abuja, for Kigali, Rwanda, to attend the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, CHOGM, being held from June 20 to 26, 2022.
At CHOGM 2022, he will join other leaders to participate in discussions focused on the progress and prosperity of the more than 2 billion people living in the 54 independent countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific that make up the Commonwealth.
The theme for CHOGM 2022 is “Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming,” and the Heads of Government are expected to reaffirm their commitment to upholding the Commonwealth Charter, which focuses on democracy, human rights, the rule of law, as well as economic opportunities and sustainable development.
In a statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, the president will attend the official opening ceremony on June 24, followed by high-level meetings of Heads of State and Government on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 June.
The statement read, “The leaders are expected to consider a range of topical issues including post COVID-19 economic recovery, debt sustainability, climate change, poverty reduction, youth entrepreneurship and employment, trade and food security.
President Buhari is also expected to hold bilateral talks with some leaders from the Commonwealth countries.
“The President will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire; the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi and the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami.
“Others in the President’s entourage are the National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno (rtd) Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar and the Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NidCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa. The President will return to the country on Sunday, June 26, 2022.”