By Lucy Adautin
President Bola Tinubu’s two-day official visit to the State of Qatar kicked off today with the signing of seven agreements between Nigeria and the Middle Eastern nation.
The visit commenced on March 2, 2024, with President Tinubu’s tour of the Museum in Doha, the capital city. He was accompanied by Mohammed Saad Al Rumaihi, CEO of Qatar Museums, and Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Hamad Al Thani, Director of the National Museum of Qatar, who provided insights into the museum’s offerings.
Recently redesigned in preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Museum showcases various materials used in Islamic art, such as carpets, textiles, manuscripts, ceramics, woodwork, ivory, metalwork, stone, and glass, offering visitors a comprehensive view of these cultural treasures.
The President is expected to see pieces of materials dating back to the earliest Islamic period from the 20th century, spanning Spain and North Africa to the Far East.
The host is also expected to conduct his visitor to view the early Hijazi Quran fragments, the sitara of the Holy Kaaba, the Moroccan arch, a copy of al-Sufi’s treatise on the fixed stars, the Abbasid blue-and-white bowl, the Seljuq stucco panel, the Doha Hind and the post-Islamic Spanish ceiling.
The visit to the Museum is anticipated to pave the way for additional events leading to the signing of agreements in seven key areas between the Nigerian and Qatari governments today.
Following the Museum visit, the President will proceed to the Qatar Foundation, tasked with advancing humanitarian efforts abroad, including in Nigeria, on behalf of the Qatari government.
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Established in 1995 by the former Emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and his second wife, Moza bint Nasser Al-Missne, the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development is a government-led nonprofit organization in Qatar. It has played a role in the development of educational institutions, housing, and healthcare facilities in various nations, including Nigeria.
The Foundation helped Nigeria with infrastructures including schools, residential houses and health facilities in states ravaged by insecurity.
Earlier on Friday night, President Tinubu had met with key ministers and top officials of the Qatari government.
At the meeting were some key Nigerian government officials on the President’s entourage, including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite; Minister of Youth Development, Jamila Ibrahim and Minister of Health and Coordinating Minister of Social Welfare, Ali Pate.
