During his first visit to Nigeria as Federal President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier held talks in Abuja with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and with Omar Touray, President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He also visited Lagos, where he met with start-up founders and representatives of German and Nigerian business to discuss the future prospects of the two countries’ economic and trade relations. The itinerary in Lagos further included a meeting with Wole Soyinka, a winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, as well as a visit to the Nike Art Gallery and a tour of the megacity’s lagoon.

In South Africa, which is beginning its G20 Presidency, the Federal President held political talks in Pretoria with President Cyril Ramaphosa. During a visit to Freedom Park, the Federal President paid tribute to the victims of apartheid and talked with people who lived through the era. He has then toured the BMW IT Hub.

On the final day of his trip, Frank-Walter Steinmeier became the first Federal President to visit Lesotho. He met with King Letsie III. He then visited the ReNOKA water project, which receives funding from Germany and the EU, and the historical site of Thaba Bosiu, where the Kingdom of Lesotho was founded.

Overview of the programme

Tuesday, 10 December

• Evening
  Arrival in Abuja, Nigeria

Wednesday, 11 December

• Early morning, Secretariat of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
  Talk with Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission

• Late morning, official residence of the President of Nigeria
  Welcome with military honours by President Bola Tinubu and talks

• 12.45 p.m.
  Joint press conference

• Midday
  Luncheon hosted by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu

• Afternoon
  Flight to Lagos

• Evening, Nike Art Gallery
  Attendance at a cultural reception

Thursday, 12 December

• Early morning
  Boat tour of the Lagos lagoon

• Late morning
  Talk with representatives of the Nigerian start-up scene

• Midday
  Talk with Nigerian entrepreneurs

• Thereafter
  Meeting with Wole Soyinka, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature

• Afternoon
  Flight to Johannesburg, South Africa

Friday, 13 December

• Morning (CET+1), official residence of the President of South Africa
  Welcome by President Cyril Ramaphosa and talks

• Thereafter
  Luncheon hosted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa

• Midday, Delegation hotel
  Talks with John Steenhuisen, Federal Leader of the Democratic Alliance

• Thereafter
  Visit to the BMW IT Hub and round-table business discussion

• Afternoon, Freedom Park Heritage Site
  Visit to the museum of South African history and the struggle for freedom

• Thereafter
  Laying of a wreath at the Freedom Flame and discussion of the fight against apartheid with people who lived through the era

• Evening, Residence of the German Ambassador
  Reception hosted by the German Ambassador and welcome speeches

Saturday, 14 December

• Morning
  Flight to Maseru, Lesotho

• Thereafter, Royal Palace
  Welcome by King Letsie III of Lesotho and talks
  
  
• Thereafter
  Luncheon hosted by the King of Lesotho

• Afternoon, Metolong Dam
  Visit to the GIZ project ReNOKA for the integrated use of water resources and sustainable water catchment management.

• Evening
  Flight to Johannesburg, onward flight to Berlin

 

Sunday, 15 December

• Arrival in Berlin