By: Mnena Iyorkegh, Abuja
The Bulgarian Ambassador to Nigeria, Yanko Yordanov, has commended the media for the role it has played in ensuring the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Nigeria is strengthened.
Ambassador Yordanov, who stated this in Abuja, at the Excellence Award ceremony organised by Diplomat Extra Magazine, explained that the strong bond of people to people relationship built with Bulgaria Nigeria was achieved with the help of the media.
“I consider this award a very important milestone showing that Bulgaria and Nigeria moved forward in these recent times, and we have succeeded in building a very strong bond, actually rebuilding a very strong bond, and one of which is actually the people-to-people contact. And once we talk about people-to-people contact, we always have in mind the role of the media. I’m very proud and happy that throughout these four years I was interacting with Nigeria’s media, and I was met with a lot of positive energy, and I hope that I translated my positive energy and willingness to work towards a better relationship, a much more active cooperation, and at the end a mutual interest that is shared between Bulgaria and Nigeria, which is the prosperity of our People. I’m sure that in not so distant future we will have again the opportunity to work together from a global perspective”, he said
Responding to the Award presented to him, the Envoy, commended all the partners that have made his work in Nigeria a worth while.
“This awards are dedicated to all people and all Nigerians and Bulgarians I was working with throughout my tenure, to those of them who were always there for Bulgaria and Nigeria. This is a dedication that shows the respect we pay to those who started believing this relationship must be rebuilt and must be successful. Bulgaria and Nigeria are partners, so it is only natural for every ambassador to work towards strengthening this bond. Thank you very much for this great honour”, he noted
Also speaking, the Former Spokesperson to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ogbole Ode, noted that great stride pulled by the Bulgarian Ambassador, is worthy of emulation.
“When the Ambassador was responding to the receipt of the award, he talked about the amount of positive energy that is available in Nigeria. And it was that positive energy that he explored so very well in order to spike, indeed reset the bottom of Nigerian popularisation. Diplomats are supposed to exert themselves at all times, in all situations, in order to improve the relations between their country, their host country, and the sending state. I think that is what he has done so very well, to be recognised and then accorded this honour of Award of Excellence by a member of the media outfit”, he said
On his part, a Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr.Oche-Martin Ejembi, of Queens Hospital, stressed on the need for Nigeria and Bulgaria to strengthen the already existing relationship to reclaim the lost achievements.
“Years ago, the relationship between Bulgaria and Nigeria was very good, then all of a sudden it went down, but he has revived it. Not only revived it, even for us, the students or the post-students or those of us who studied in Bulgaria, he revived the association. And for those studying, we are now more united, we look forward to more things with Bulgaria, we look forward to more business, we look forward to a very active Bulgarian-Nigerian chamber of commerce, and we look forward to a personal relationship with him. Nigerians really need to explore that side of Europe, because we are missing a lot. This is where we will make it, whether in railway line, whether in agriculture particularly, in mining, in medicine, in whatever capacity. We wish that Nigeria and Bulgaria strengthen their relationship so that many things we are losing, we are missing, can be gotten back”, he stressed
Bulgaria and Nigerian relationship, has been in existence for over sixty years, both countries are optimistic that the mutually beneficial cooperation will be more result-oriented leading to more significant achievements beneficial to the friendship between the two countries.
