Godswill Akpabio, President of the Nigerian Senate, and Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, arrived in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday to participate in the 148th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Leading the Nigerian delegation, the Senate President was accompanied by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong.

Upon their arrival at the Geneva airport, Akpabio and his entourage were received by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Switzerland, Abiodun Richards Adejola, along with South African Ambassador to Switzerland, Mr Mxolisi Nkosi.

According to a statement from the Special Assistant on Media to the Senate President, Jackson Udom, this year’s edition of the IPU Assembly will take place from the 23rd to the 27th of March, 2024.

A letter addressed to the Nigerian Senate President from the Secretary General of the IPU, Martin Chungong, states, “Dear Mr President, the 148th Assembly of the IPU and related meetings will be held at the International Conference Centre of Geneva, (ICCG) Switzerland from Saturday, 23rd to Wednesday, 27th March, 2024. We are pleased to enclose detailed information on these meetings including the Agendas of the IPU statutory bodies. We very much hope that your parliament will be represented at the 148th Assembly and that the delegation under your leadership will take an active part in the proceedings.”

During the previous edition of the IPU held in Luanda, Angola, Nigeria achieved a significant milestone when Akpabio was elected to the Executive Committee of the global parliamentary body, breaking a 59-year-old jinx. The last time Nigeria had the privilege of being on the IPU Executive Committee was in 1964.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), founded in 1889, is a global organization of national parliaments dedicated to promoting peace through parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue. With 179 member countries out of 193 in the world, the IPU has become a truly global organization.

In addition to attending the IPU Assembly, Akpabio was nominated by the African Parliamentary Union (APU) on 7th March 2024 to serve on the Preparatory Committee for the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament of the IPU.

The IPU plays a crucial role in facilitating parliamentary diplomacy and empowering parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy, and sustainable development worldwide.