The Consulate General of the Republic of South Africa in Lagos is set to host the first-ever South Africa Week Celebrations in Nigeria to mark a major diplomatic milestone. The week-long celebrations are scheduled to take place from Saturday 22 April to Saturday 29 April 2023.
The event is in commemoration of the 29th Anniversary of South Africa’s democracy and 29 years of formal diplomatic relations between South Africa and Nigeria. The key objectives of South Africa Week include celebrating 29 years of freedom and democracy, deepening bilateral relations through trade and investment, and creating social cohesion through a tapestry of arts and culture.
According to an official statement signed by the Deputy Consular General of the South African Consulate Lagos, Ms. Sebo Lenyai, the event also seeks to position South Africa as a preferred destination for tourism, education, and business, as well as to elaborate on the diversity of the rainbow nation in Nigeria.
To celebrate the maiden South Africa Week, several exciting programs and activities have been lined up. These include social and entertainment events, sports tournaments, business meetings, and investment roundtables.
The event will kick off on Saturday, 22 April 2023, with “Mzansi Imbiso”. The inaugural event will promote and position South Africa as the preferred tourist destination, as well as engage and network with stakeholders in various sectors, the public and private sectors, and friends of the Consulate.
Sunday, 23 April 2023, will feature South African and Nigerian Movie and Comedy Night, designed to promote social cohesion between South Africans and Nigerians through arts and culture in the visual arts by showcasing film productions such as documentaries and short films by South African and Nigerian producers and filmmakers, as well as to display the creative arts through humor with comedy.
Tuesday, 25 April 2023, will see the South Africa-Nigeria Trade and Investment Roundtable, which will promote and position South Africa as a preferred trade and investment country that is open to business by creating and providing a platform between the South African and Nigerian Business Communities to exchange views, experiences, and sharing of information on matters of common interest and mutual benefit between both countries.
Other programs lined up for the week include the Freedom Day Celebration, which will take place on Friday, 28 April 2023, to commemorate the 29th Anniversary of South Africa’s democracy and 29 years of formal diplomatic relations between South Africa and Nigeria. The event will come to an end on Saturday, 29 April 2023, with the SACG Golf Tournament aimed at promoting social cohesion and common interests between South Africans and Nigerians through sports.
Diplomatic relations between Nigeria and South Africa were formally established in 1994, with the countries’ respective high commissions established in Abuja in 1995 and in Tshwane in 1996, opening up bilateral relations between both countries. The South Africa Week Celebrations are expected to deepen these relations and promote mutual economic and cultural growth.
