In a significant push to bolster intra-African diplomacy, Nigeria and Kenya have committed to revitalizing their Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) to bridge a ten-year gap in structured bilateral engagement.
The agreement was reached on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, during a high-level meeting between Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Isaac Keen Parashina, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
Focus on Economic Integration and Innovation
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasized that the reactivation of the JCC is the most effective mechanism for reviewing existing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and ensuring they deliver “measurable implementation outcomes.”
With a combined market of nearly 290 million people, the Minister noted that both nations carry a shared responsibility to lead the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Key priority sectors identified for immediate collaboration include:
- Fintech and Digital Agriculture
- Livestock Development and Tourism
- Trade Facilitation and Migration Management
