Botswana High Commission, Nigeria

H.E MS. PHILDA NANI KERENG PRESENTS LETTERS OF CREDENCE TO HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CABO VERDE
On the 25th February 2026, Her Excellency Ms. Philda Nani Kereng presented her Letters of Credence to His Excellency, José Maria Pereira Neves President of the Republic of Cabo Verde, officially accrediting her as the Ambassador of the Republic of Botswana to Cabo Verde.
Botswana and Cabo Verde enjoy friendly relations and close ties underpinned by shared democratic values. Her Excellency Ambassador Kereng held pre-presentation meetings with Honourable Dr. Rui Alberto De Figueiredo Soares Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Regional Integration of Cabo Verde where she presented copies of her letters. During their meeting the Honourable Minister and the Ambassador-Designate discussed deliberate intentions to bring the two countries closer to come up with strategies to enhance collaboration and explore specific sectors of interest for investment purposes.
Cabo Verde is a ten-island archipelago, nine of which are inhabited. The unique structure of the country has enhanced the tourism sector, which is the main contributor to the country’s GDP. With Botswana targeting the tourism as a sector for diversification, enhance collaboration with Cabo Verde with more than 1million arrivals of tourists will bring in an interesting and dynamic tourism product of safari. Cabo Verde, tourism sector is more focused on water tourism, (beaches, sailing etc). While this is an interesting factor to be explored, tour operators and the hospitality sectors would promote affluent tourists in order to tackle the challenge of air connectivity.
The discussions were buttressed by His Excellency the President José Maria Pereira Neves after receiving Letters of Accreditation. This Presentation is viewed as a milestone for engagement and come up with a high level strategy for the two countries to enhance the level of engagement including increase on high level exchange visits. His Excellency the President also acknowledged and appreciated that Cabo Verde has become the main stop-over for Botswana’s president en-route to the West and proposed that such should facilitate high level engagement as well as sectoral ones.

Discussions centred on several sectors:
• Cabo Verde is developing big in terms of sports with their national team having qualified for the upcoming FIFA world Cup.
• Peace, Security and Governance where Botswana has excelled of which Cabo Verde is ready to learn from. Botswana’s credentials on governance is highly regarded in Cabo Verde.
• Mutually beneficial collaborations to explore on training and skills development, tourism and hospitality, digital innovation, sustainability and secular economy focusing on drought management and renewable energy.
• Cabo Verde has a School of Hotel and Tourism which could be explored to secure trainings for Batswana in the sector.
Cabo Verde is ready to host Botswana’s High Level delegation and to equally visit Botswana to enhance the bilateral relation. Promotion of investment from both countries would be undertaken through business forums during such visits.

HER EXCELLENCY MS. PHILDA NANI KERENG PAYS A COURTESY VISIT TO THE FEDERAL MINISTER OF LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT NIGERIA, HONORABLE ALHAJI IDI MUKHTAR MAIHA

Her Excellency Ms. Philda Nani Kereng paid a courtesy visit to Honorable Minister in the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development Nigeria, Honorable Minister Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha to engage and explore collaboration on Livestock Development.

High Commissioner Kereng informed of Botswana’s success story on livestock management, emphasising that Botswana’s five-decade experience and commitment in quality beef production continued the security of export to the European market. The deliberate intent emanated from the commitment of the country and farmers on maintaining the production through well researched policies, strong governance structures, and extensive farmer support systems.She further explained that Botswana’s livestock sector grew from a rural development model that prioritised agriculture, to a production of high-quality cattle as part of Botswana’s Economic Transformation for economic growth as well as improving the lives of farmers. The beef sector, second to diamonds in national revenue generation, has been sustainable due to prudent disease-control systems, communal land and grazing management, targeted veterinary interventions, and highly subsidised farmer support programmes.

Collaboration with Nigeria, will be pinned on Botswana sharing experiences through working with institutions and associations
both the Private and Public Sectors. Emphasis will be on beef quality improvement through enhanced genetics, modern abattoir practices, disease management, veterinary protocols, vaccine production, livestock traceability, grazing management, animal tracking technology and farmer training.

Honorable Minister Maiha, in response informed that the Nigeria Federal Government is committed to implementing evidence-based policies to modernise Nigeria’s livestock sector and position it as part of the key drivers of national economic growth. The creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development which is almost 2 years was established for that purpose. He underscored Nigeria readiness to embrace structured reforms to support productivity, enhance value addition, and create sustainable livelihoods for farmers and livestock value-chain as the Ministry moves to rehabilitate and modernise grazing reserves across the country into structured ranching ecosystems. He appreciated the Botswana’s success story in Managing Trans-boundary Diseases, Vaccine Development, Research and Breed Improvement, Feedlots Development. He stated that his Federal Ministry of Livestock Development is ready to partner with Botswana and to be in the fore-front of bilateral collaboration on this critical sector.

At the invitation of the African Weaving Festival (AWeF 2025) in Abuja, Nigeria, the Department of Cooperative Development in Botswana mobilized various Cooperative representatives to take part at the AWeF 2025. Three (3) participants representing: basket weaver from North-West District, basket weaver from Chobe District as well as a tapestry weaver from Oodi were in attendance.

The AWeF 2025, the 3rd Weaving Festival convened in Abuja, with the objective of promoting Africa’s cooperation through arts, crafts, culture and tourism. The festival was held on 14th – 16th November 2025 at the Cyprian Ekwesi Cultural Centre. The Centre houses the Cyprian Ekwesi Museum where the Mission has been offered a space to showcase and sell Botswana arts, crafts, and apparels. The Cultural Centre provides the opportunity for display, selling as well as skills development through Master Classes, Workshops and Conferences. The team also visited the Arts and Crafts Village which provides SMMEs with a market for their apparels, sculptures, arts etc.
Botswana received the Best Participating Country Award at the AWeF 2025 event.

On 15th November 2025, BOTNIG participated in the African Food & Drinks Festival 2025(AFDF 2025) their 5th Edition which was organised by the African Food Network in partnership with the African Tourism Board under the theme: United by Food: Five Years, One Continent, Endless Flavour.

The event celebrated Africa's rich cuisine with focus on food, drinks and culture. BOTNIG prepared various dishes inclusive of Seswaa, Bogobe jwa lerotse, Beef Stew, Dikgobe, Korong, Mosutlhane, Diphaphatha, Dumblings, Hard Chicken, Morogo, Kabu and Gemere (Ginger Drink). The Botswana cuisine tells the story of a rich culture spotlighting as well Botswana’s broader cultural identity with the display of the arts and crafts, basketry and the kgotla as well as music and dance. The Botswana Pavilion and Cultural Booth was displayed at the High Commission premises with further promotion of Botswana’ unique tourism product.

With previous editions held in Accra, Lagos, and Abuja, the festival is said to have grown and is one of the impactful platforms for African culinary and cultural diplomacy. It attracted a number of guests, including food enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, creatives, and members of the press while strengthening cultural ties between Botswana and Nigeria.

Guests who participated on the Food Tour tasted traditional cuisine, enjoying the history, the significance, and the traditional way of preparing the food and were invited by the High Commissioner to visit Botswana.

Her Excellency Philda Nani Kereng High Commissioner of the Republic of Botswana to the Federal Republic of Nigeria was hosted by the August Chorale of Abuja during a performance event where they also among their pieces performed a Botswana piece, “Fiela ngwanyana”. This is part of the High Commission priorities of promoting cultural integration and establishing ways of cultural exchange programme between Nigeria and Botswana. This demonstrates potential opportunities of collaboration, twinning between Botswana Chorale and Nigeria Chorale among other cultural products.

SADC Ambassadors Group in Nigeria bidding farewell to High Commissioners of the Republic of Namibia H.E Humphrey Geiseb and High Commissioner of the Republic of Zambia H.E. George Muhali Imbuwa, as they completed their assignments in the Federal republic of Nigeria.

Ambassador Mrs. Nonyelum A. Afoekelu, Head of Southern African Affairs Division in the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria paid a courtesy call on Her Excellency Philda Nani Kereng High Commissioner of the Republic of Botswana to the Federal Republic of Nigeria to discuss Botswana/Nigeria Bilateral Relations.

PRESIDENT ADVOCATE DUMA GIDEON BOKO LAUNCHES THE BOTSWANA ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME (BETP)

On 15th July 2025, President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko launched the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP). BETP is central to the new Government’s economic agenda with the aim to diversify Botswana’s economy, enhance macroeconomic stability, establish Botswana as a regional anchor for cross-border financial activity; accelerate economic growth; attract local and international investors as well as to drive national development.

To roll out the Programme, there has been a “Call for Ideas” campaign, inviting Batswana including those in the Diaspora to share ideas as part of contribution towards shaping Botswana’s Future Economic Transformation Agenda.The campaign is spearheaded by the Ministry of Finance and the National Planning Commission. Full details of the campaign can be accessed at: https://cfi.gov.bw

This is an inclusive process that gives the Botswana Diaspora across the globe to contribute to toward Botswana’s socio-economic development. You are all encouraged to visit the site.
Botswana High Commission, Abuja

Botswana participated at Nigeria Army War College International Day 2025 held on the 10th of May. Africa’s rich culture was showcased thus displaying diversity through musical performances, cultural exhibitions, traditional cuisine, and national artifacts. The event resonated well with a key aspect of the curriculum promoting cross-cultural understanding, broadening engagement and fostering exchange of ideas.

BOTSWANA-NIGERIA VIRTUAL TRADE MISSION | 28TH MARCH 2025
Join Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) and Botswana High Commission in Nigeria for a Botswana-Nigeria Virtual Trade Promotion Mission on March 28, 2025, from 09:30 to 16:30. Connect, collaborate, and explore business opportunities across sectors between Botswana and Nigeria under African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Register now to secure your spot and fuel intra-African trade growth. Don’t miss out!

Visit the BITC page for registration

On 07 February 2025, His Excellency Selestine Gervas Kakele, High Commissioner- Designate of the United Republic of Tanzania to the Federal Republic of Nigeria paid a courtesy call on High Commissioner Philda Nani Kereng following his arrival in Abuja. The two High Commissioners undertook to continue supporting each other at country and SADC level to enhance visibility and exploit the huge Nigerian market for the benefit of their peoples.

High Commissioner Philda Nani Kereng met with the Honourable Minister of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Industry H.E Hannatu Musa Musawa. The two discussed and explored mutually beneficial collaborations between Botswana and Nigeria to build and promote the Creative Sector focusing on Film Industry, Music, Fashion and Textiles, Visual Arts Cultural Tourism as well as Policy Development.

The meeting agreed to explore partnerships including capacity building initiatives, co-production of films, content branding and marketing among others. Leveraging the strengths of both countries will foster economic growth, create jobs and enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of Botswana’s Creatives and competitively trade in the Global Space. Further engagements will focus on building strategies and action plans to facilitate this anticipated partnership.