On Monday, September 29, 2026, The President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has formally received the Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, Hon. Milton Dick, at the National Assembly complex in Abuja to discuss strategic bilateral partnerships and the upcoming leadership election for the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
During the bilateral meeting, Senate President Akpabio assured the Australian lawmaker of Nigeria’s backing for his candidature for the Presidency of the IPU, pointing to Hon. Dick’s extensive experience within the global body and his commitment to parliamentary diplomacy, impartiality, and democratic inclusion.
The 32nd President of the IPU is expected to be elected at the 153rd IPU Assembly, scheduled to take place in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, on October 9, 2026.
Highlighting the strategic value of the international platform, Akpabio stated that Nigeria attaches deep importance to the IPU as a vital arena for parliamentary dialogue, international cooperation, and democratic development. He added that he intends to engage African parliamentary colleagues ahead of their upcoming continental consultative meeting to build consensus around the Australian Speaker’s bid.
Beyond international parliamentary leadership, both leaders held discussions aimed at expanding trade, economic, and institutional ties between Nigeria and Australia. Key areas identified for enhanced collaboration include mining, agriculture, education, renewable energy, technology, security, and institutional capacity building.
Akpabio took the opportunity to pitch Nigeria’s investment landscape to foreign capital, extending a direct invitation to the Australian business community. Pointing to Nigeria’s large consumer market, youthful population, and abundant natural resources, he emphasized that the country remains a premier destination for long-term investments.
Reaffirming the commitment to deep-seated diplomacy, the Senate President noted that closer ties between both nations present a rare opportunity to build a strong parliamentary bridge connecting Africa and the Pacific region, deepening bilateral relations while delivering tangible economic and social benefits to both populations.
Following the courtesy visit to the National Assembly, where we held fruitful discussions on the forthcoming IPU election and the bilateral relationship between the governments of Nigeria and Australia, we hosted a reception in honour of the visiting Speaker at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. The engagement underscores the importance of sustained parliamentary diplomacy in deepening relations between Nigeria and Australia and advancing shared commitments to democratic governance, peace, and international cooperation.
