Follow Us on Google
By Emma Emeozor
This year, Brazil is holding an uncommon bi-centennial independence anniversary and the citizens are excited. The country attained independence from Portugal on September 7, 1822. Two events within the programme make this year’s anniversary unique.
The first is the bringing of the heart of the first Emperor of the country from Portugal to Brazil, an event that will make stronger the unity of the country. Emperor Dom Pedro I declared the country’s independence from Portugal.
He was born in 1798 and died in 1834 following tuberculosis attack. His body was buried in Brazil but his heart was removed and kept in Portugal at his request. Pedro 1, the son of King Joao VI known as Pedro IV in Portugal abdicated the throne in 1831 and returned to Portugal.
However, Brazilians regard him as champion of liberal causes and representative rule. Brazil Minister for defence, Paulo Sergio Nogueira showered praises on Pedro 1 during the welcoming ceremony of the Emperor’s heart at Brasilia airbase on August 22, 2022. Nogueira’s words expressed the deep rooted love and appreciation of the people for their ex-emperor.
He said: “Today, the heart of this national hero, the first emperor of Brazil, returns home to our soil. This important relic represents the bravery, passion and above all the immeasurable strength of our first emperor.”
Chief of Ceremonial Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alan Coelho said the emperor’s heart which was released on loan and to be returned to Portugal “will be treated as if Dom Pedro I were alive and with us, just as if it were a state visit by a foreign leader.”Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonario received the heart at an official ceremony with full military honours.
The second reason the 2022 National Day is unique is the showcasing of the importance the government of Brazil attaches to its diplomatic ties with Nigeria. The Mission of Brazil in Nigeria has consequently lined up several events to mark the country’s friendship with Nigeria as part of the independence celebration.
The Consul General of Brazil in Lagos, Francisco Carlos Soares Luz was boisterous when he told a press confab that his government wants to use the occasion of the National Day to highlight the long existence good relations between the two countries. He described the two countries as giants in their respective geo-political regions. “Nigeria is the largest market and democracy in Africa just as Brazil is in Latin America,” he said.
He said Brazil-Nigeria diplomatic relations was good in all fronts –political, economic, education and diplomacy among other areas. He observed that both countries have common colonial experience, lifestyle and even religious belief.
He said there is strong cultural affinity between the two countries and this calls for the festival alongside the bi-centennial anniversary. According to him, the events in Nigeria start from September 6, 2022 to September 10, 2022.
The highlight of the events includes a workshop on “Developing a Sustainable Framework for Nigeria-Brazil Tourism Enhancement” with the following sub-themes: Visa and Aviation, Tourism inbound and Outbound.
Also, Brazil-Nigeria Business Forum with the theme: “Paving the way for a brighter future” will be held to x-ray the outlook of business in both countries. Various sectors of the economy of Brazil and Nigeria will be discussed with a view to improving on the existing level of business between the two countries.
The following issues are among the topics slated for presentation by eminent Brazilian and Nigerian scholars and business moguls: “The Green Imperative Initiative: a game changer for Nigerian agriculture; Uberaba- Brazil Urea Plant presentation; Dangote- Nigeria Urea Plant Presentation and a Discussion Panel on Why the Brazilian experience in agriculture is important to Nigeria?
Luz said the desire of his office to encourage Brazilian and Nigerian business men to explore new ways of doing business for the good of the two countries, has made the Consulate to bring members of one of the biggest Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Industries of Rio de Janeiro, to meet with Nigeria’s business community.
His words: “The main objective of the mission is to strengthen economic and commercial ties with Nigeria, by prospecting business opportunities and mutual commercial synergies with Nigerian potential partners.
“Furthermore, the mission will count with a representative from FIRJAN SENAI whose objective will be to promote discussions and to foster technical cooperation in the fields of innovation and technology and industrial training between the units of SENAI-RJ and the Innovation Institute of FIRJAN-SENAI with Nigerian companies and innovation and technical organizations.”
The Consul General said among the priority sectors for the State of Rio de Janeiro mission are: “Food and Beverage; Petroleum & Gas; Naval; Construction; Metallurgical & Metal-mechanic Industries; Oil by-products and Biofuels; Automotive Industry; Chemical Industry; Furniture; Defense.
Others are: “Clothing & Apparel, with a focus on lingerie and beachwear; Mining, especially gravel, marbles, granites and other ornamental stones; Jewelry; Creative Industries (Audiovisual); and Ceramics.” The trade mission will be led by its top leaders. Interestingly, “Brazil Food and Music Festival” will also feature during the celebration in Nigeria.
Luz assured that at the end of the business forum, the visiting Brazilian trade mission will invite Nigerian business to make a pay-back visit to Brazil.
Meanwhile, he has said lack of direct flight between Brazil and Nigeria poses big challenge to doing business between the two countries. He described flight connections as not good for business.
He was, however, optimistic that there will be a solution soon. This is even as he noted that the Russian-Ukraine war has affected the economy of his country just as the war has made Nigeria a major supplier of urea to Brazil. He was of the view that Nigeria’s business regulations are complicated.
Luz disclosed that Brazil is helping to train Nigerians by offering scholarships to qualified candidates willing to study in specific business areas such as agriculture. He said, currently, the target is 150 Nigerian students per annum though intake of students is being done gradually.
The envoy announced that the Consulate has put in place an action plan to boost the ties between the two countries. The action plan includes: Strengthening the bilateral Chamber of Commerce, organising events to help build trust among the business community, the Consulate will work with the Brazilian sectoral organisations and support the Embassy in Abuja in its efforts to raise the restriction on Brazilian products.
