*35 YOUNG BURUNDIANS, SET TO RECEIVE $5000 TONY ELUMELU ENTREPRENEURSHIP GRANTS AS THE NIGERIAN MISSION IN BUJUMBURA WELCOMES THE VICE CHANCELLOR OF NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY AWKA FOR A BILATERAL EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WITH THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI*


_The week in review_ _#diplomaticengagements_


The Nigerian Embassy in Bujumbura last month received in audience, Col. Aloys from the Burundian Presidency. While welcoming Col. Aloys at the Nigerian Embassy, Amb Elijah Onyeagba PhD commended the Government and the good people of Burundi on their continuous determination to deepen bilateral ties with Nigeria, promising that Nigeria will continue to play the "Big Brother" role in ensuring that the Africa of our dream is achieved. He used the opportunity to announce that 35 young Burundian entrepreneurs will benefit from this year's Tony Elumelu Foundation Africa Entrepreneurship Grant. The Burundian entrepreneurs will receive $5,000 (five thousand dollars) each. This will bring the total beneficiaries of this grant in Burundi to 103 from 2015 till date. Thus far, the Tony Elumelu Foundation has trained, mentored, and funded over 15,847 young African entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries through its Entrepreneurship Programmes. The Tony Elumelu Foundation has provided capacity-building supports, advisory and market linkages to over 1million Africans through its digital networking platform, TEFConnect.

The Head of Nigerian Mission in Bujumbura, commended The Tony Elumelu Foundation for its determination in empowering women and men across our continent. The diplomat stated that such is a vital catalyst for economic growth, increased drive in poverty eradication and job creation.

On April 1st 2022, the Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Burundi was in Getiga, Burundi’s Political Capital to attend the Opening Ceremony of the Senate's Ordinary Parliamentary Session of April 2022. The Senate is the Upper Chamber of Parliament in the Republic of Burundi. It consist of members who serve 5 year terms. His Excellency extended the best wishes and compliments of His Excellency President Muhamadu Buhari, the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and also of the good people of Nigeria.

On Sunday April 3rd 2022, The Nigerian Mission in Burundi received Professor Charles Okechukwu Esimone to Bujumbura. It will be recalled that Nigeria and Burundi recently signed the Nigeria/ Burundi Joint Commission. The major features of the Joint Commission include technical consultation, education cooperation and political consultation. As part of the Mission's efforts to implement the Bilateral Agreement on Education Cooperation between Nigeria and Burundi, the mission invited the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Professor Charles Okechukwu Esimone to Bujumbura. Prof Esimone in Burundi will explore possible grounds of partnership and cooperation in education between the two nations.

*According to the Head of the Nigerian Mission in Burundi His Excellency Amb Elijah Onyeagba, “He has been invited to explore potential opportunities within the educational sector here in Burundi.’’*