Abuja, Nigeria, 25 August 2016 – A new IsDB Gateway Office in Nigeria will “help boost the existing cooperation between Nigeria and IsDB and strengthen cooperation and economic integration among countries of region,” said IsDB Group President Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali at the inauguration of the new office in Abuja.

During his visit with an IsDB delegation to open the new Gateway Office, Dr. Ali was granted an audience at State House with the Hon. President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Muhammad Buhari.

H.E. President Buhari applauded IsDB’s significant contribution to development in Nigeria. He expressed his country’s eagerness to strengthen its cooperation with the Bank and affirmed its commitment to supporting IsDB’s developmental mission. H.E. President Buhari stated that his country is working closely with IsDB and with other development partners to ensure better living standards for the people in the country.

Dr. Ali praised President Buhari for the Nigerian Government’s major economic programs focused on peace building, stability, social harmony, infrastructure support and agricultural development. He said that IsDB will continue to work with Nigeria to implement development programs across the country that will enhance the health and agriculture sectors and expand and improve road, water and power networks in remote areas.

Dr. Ali also said that the Bank will further support the education sector, particularly bilingual education and vocational training, in a bid to create community-based job opportunities for young people that will help curb extremism. He expressed the Bank’s willingness to help raise funds to support development programs and projects in Nigeria Sukuk issues or through its cooperation with the Coordination Group. The Coordination Group is composed of Arab regional and national institutions,
development funds and the OPEC Fund for International Development.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria became an IsDB member country in 2005 and is among its major shareholders. Since then, total IsDB funding for Nigeria has been more than US $1 billion. IsDB has approved contributions to several major development projects for Nigeria, including the National Food Security Program for the states of Anambra, Gombe and Yobe and water and sewerage projects in Osun State. IsDB has also approved contributions to the Bilingual Education Program for nine Nigerian states:
Adamahawa, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Niger, Nassarawa, Osun and Kwara.