Nigeria, Philippines to Establish Joint Business Council, Explore Migrant Workers’ Office
Nigeria and the Philippines have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation through the establishment of a Nigeria-Philippines Business Council and further consultations on the proposed establishment of a Migrant Workers’ Office at the Philippine Embassy in Abuja.
The agreement was reached during a bilateral meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines, Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The meeting, convened at the instance of the Philippine side, focused on strengthening relations between both countries and identifying new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.
The two Ministers identified fertilizer production, food security and liquefied natural gas (LNG) as priority areas for expanded bilateral collaboration. They also discussed the convening of the next Nigeria-Philippines Bilateral Consultation to advance discussions on these and other areas of mutual interest.
Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu said: “Nigeria attaches great importance to its relationship with the Philippines, and we see considerable opportunities to translate our shared interests into practical economic and people-to-people partnerships. The proposed Business Council will provide an important platform for our private sectors to deepen trade and investment, while our discussions on migrant workers underscore our shared commitment to ensuring that Nigerians and Filipinos living and working in each other’s countries are treated with dignity, protected under the law, and supported through appropriate institutional mechanisms.”
The Ministers agreed on the need to establish a Nigeria-Philippines Business Council as a structured platform for promoting trade, investment and private-sector engagement between both countries. They also proposed reciprocal ministerial-level visits during the first and second quarters of 2027 to further strengthen bilateral relations and advance areas of cooperation.
The discussions also covered education and human capital development, with both sides expressing interest in expanding student scholarship and exchange programmes and facilitating the mutual recognition of educational certificates between Nigeria and the Philippines.
Proposed Migrant Workers’ Office
The two Ministers further discussed the proposed establishment of a Migrant Workers’ Office (Labour Desk/Office) at the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Abuja.
The proposed office is envisaged as a structured platform for promoting the welfare, safety and protection of migrant workers, as well as supporting issues relating to their rights and immigration status.
Given the active labour migration between Nigeria and the Philippines, the proposal will require further consideration and consultations among relevant stakeholders. Accordingly, inter-agency consultations are expected to involve relevant departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Nigerian Embassy in Manila and other relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
These consultations will seek to ensure that the proposed framework is balanced, addresses the interests of both countries, and adequately safeguards the welfare and interests of Nigerians working and residing in the Philippines.
The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of Nigeria and the Philippines to expanding their bilateral relationship through economic cooperation, trade and investment, education, labour mobility and people-to-people exchanges.