Nigeria’s Ambassador to Israel, Ambassador Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu, has formally presented her Letters of Credence to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, marking the official start of her diplomatic mission.
The ceremony, held on Monday, August 3, 2026, in Jerusalem, signifies Nigeria’s renewed push to strengthen bilateral relations with Israel, particularly in trade, technology, agriculture and security cooperation.
The development was disclosed in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, which described the event as a reaffirmation of Nigeria’s commitment to deepening longstanding ties between both nations.
Speaking after the ceremony, Ambassador Ufochukwu pledged to advance Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives while expanding cooperation in key sectors. “My mission will prioritise the expansion of cooperation in trade and investment, agriculture, technology, security, innovation and cultural exchanges,” she said.
She added that fostering stronger people-to-people ties would be central to enhancing mutual benefits for both countries.
The ministry expressed confidence that her appointment would consolidate the strategic partnership between Nigeria and Israel, opening new opportunities for sustainable development.
In a related diplomatic engagement, Nigeria and Israel recently reaffirmed their commitment to deeper collaboration during a valedictory visit by outgoing Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu commended Freeman for strengthening bilateral relations and reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to expand cooperation in counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, border security and capacity building.
She also highlighted the importance of partnerships between Nigerian startups and Israeli technology firms to drive innovation and economic growth.
Freeman, who described Nigeria as an “amazing country,” said continued engagement is key to unlocking the full potential of the relationship, expressing optimism that bilateral trade—currently estimated at about $200 million annually—will grow significantly.
