The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has paid a condolence visit to the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Nigeria to commiserate with the government and people of Qatar on the passing of the Father Amir, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
According to a statement on Friday, signed by the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, PhD, during the visit at the Embassy of Qatar in Abuja, the Minister conveyed the sympathy of the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria to the Qatari leadership.
She said the condolence visit underscores Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic, cultural, and economic relations with the State of Qatar under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
She described the late Father Amir as a visionary statesman whose leadership from 1995 to 2013 transformed Qatar and laid the foundation for the nation’s global prominence.
“We are deeply saddened by this great loss. On behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government, and the people of Nigeria, I extend our heartfelt condolences to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the government and the people of Qatar.
“Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani will be remembered as an architect of modern Qatar. We pray that Allah grants his soul eternal rest and grants the Qatari nation the fortitude to bear this loss,” she said.
The Minister also used the opportunity to discuss areas of mutual interest between Nigeria and Qatar, with particular focus on strengthening diplomatic and cultural cooperation, tourism, and creative economy exchanges.
Minister Musawa said that Nigeria is keen on deepening collaboration that will enhance cultural tourism and people-to-people exchanges between both nations. She expressed support for improved connectivity between Abuja and Doha, and called for easier travel processes to facilitate cultural delegations, tourism operators, and business travelers.
“The Creative Economy and Tourism sector thrive on cultural exchange. We welcome partnerships that make it easier for Nigerians to engage with Qatar through festivals, exhibitions, and tourism initiatives,” she stated.
The Minister further advocated for a more streamlined process for acquiring Qatari visas for cultural purposes, emphasizing that ease of travel will significantly improve cultural exchange and tourism flows between both countries.
In his response, the Ambassador of Qatar to Nigeria His Excellency Mr. Yousef Mohammed Ahmed Al-Hail thanked the Minister and the Federal Government for the condolence visit and solidarity. He expressed Qatar’s commitment to deepening cultural ties with Nigeria.
“Nigeria’s rich and diverse culture is admired worldwide, and the creative energy of Nigerian youth is a global asset. Qatar is keen to partner with the Ministry to showcase Nigerian music, film, fashion and heritage through cultural exchange programs in Doha. With stronger diplomatic ties and improved travel processes, we can bring Nigerian creativity closer to global audiences and create new opportunities for our people.”
The Ambassador further assured that the Embassy would work with relevant Qatari authorities to explore the Ministry’s proposals on cultural collaboration and travel facilitation.