DIPLOMACY & ECONOMY

Ambassador promises welfare of Nigerians living in Hungary

By Hakeem Babalola

Nig amb to Hungary, Ononye

The newly appointed Nigerian ambassador to Hungary, Mr. Charles Ononye, has promised Nigerians living in the country that their welfare is of the utmost importance – both to the embassy and the Nigerian government in general.

Ononye disclosed this and many other pressing issues during a cocktail held in celebration of the presentation of his Letters of Credence to the Hungarian president on August 18 at Hilton Hotel in Budapest District 1

Although the cocktail and the presentation of Letters of Credence were done separately, the new ambassador used the evening event to reach out to both Nigerian professionals as well as Hungarian experts whom he believed could lend helping hand in various sectors of the Nigerian economy which he described as the priority of Jonathan Goodluck's administration

"We are here specifically to take care of the interest of Nigerians,” he said, adding that there's no need to physically present in Nigeria before making their presence felt.

Addressing the gathering, Ononye reminded Nigerians in Hungary that they are all ambassadors of Nigeria and that whatever they do impact on ‘our country positively or negatively’.

A career diplomat who has served his country in different capacity for almost 32 years, he stated further that his administration is ready to maintain an open door policy in line with Nigerian president’s plan to reach out to Nigerians wherever they are.

His words: "My officers cannot do it alone. We partner with you. You represent diverse professional sectors, so we need your services. So I urge you to keep in contact and we will keep in contact with you. It is a two-way traffic. Whatever in put you have, your ideas are always welcome. The instruction from Mr. President is very clear: Reach out to Nigerians; tap from them whatever resources they have. Whatever they can render to lift up our economy.″

In the same manner, the new ambassador enjoined the Hungarian private sector as well as experts to ’partner with us in the areas of energy, health, education, communication and water resources’.

However, Ononye regrettably admitted that Nigeria has problems of energy and infrastructural development especially what he called the "slow electric generation" which obviously affecting advancement in technology. But he quickly added that all hands must be on deck to tackle the energy sector which will invariably energise others.

Describing Hungary as the centre of excellence, he said that Hungary and Nigeria’s relationship should be strong and firm because there are many areas where the Hungarian private sectors can be useful to the economy of Nigeria.

Also describing his new position as a landmark in his diplomatic career, Ononye told the gathering that his administration definitely welcome constructive criticism as well as ideas and opinions that will contribute to the progress of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, African News Hungary asked some Nigerians to comment on the substance of the ambassador’s speech.

“The speech is good,” said Mr. Oluremi Durosaiye, Senior Corporate Relationship Manger at K & H Bank. However he pointed out that he had heard several good speeches not backed up with action, but hoped this one would be different.

In his own assessment, Dr. John Sessi, Managing Director FROMM Packaging System, explained that the new ambassador has the punch to deliver. He said that he based his remark on both the context of the speech as well as his brief interaction with him.

 “I think he has the best of intention,” he affirmed, adding that the ball is now on our court to do the follow up which would eventually facilitate the mutual relationship. 

Ononye who graduated from the University of Nsukka with 2nd class degree in Political Science in 1978, becomes the fifth Nigerian ambassador to Hungary since the embassy was opened in 1992 after twenty-eight years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.