Nigeria and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are set to deepen cooperation in humanitarian affairs, youth empowerment, counter-extremism, cultural exchange, and socio-economic development.

The development followed a meeting between the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, and the Assistant Secretary-General of the OIC, Ambassador Dr. Tarig Ali Bakheet, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

The ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Manipur, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday.

According to the statement, the meeting reviewed the longstanding relations between Nigeria and the OIC, with both sides exploring practical measures to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

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Ahmed proposed the establishment of a Nigeria-OIC Working Group on Humanitarian Affairs to promote regional coordination in addressing insecurity and humanitarian challenges in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin.

He said the proposed working group would also help advance interfaith dialogue and provide assistance to displaced populations affected by conflicts and insecurity in the region.

The Permanent Secretary further called for greater cultural cooperation between Nigeria and OIC member states, including the organization of cultural festivals aimed at exposing young people to diverse cultural heritage and promoting peace, unity, and mutual understanding.

He also advocated enhanced OIC-supported programs in vocational training, women’s empowerment, and healthcare development to ensure that cooperation between Nigeria and the organization translates into tangible benefits for citizens.

In his response, Bakheet commended Nigeria for its active and constructive role within the OIC and expressed the organization’s readiness to deepen cooperation with the country in areas of shared interest.

The OIC Assistant Secretary-General invited Nigeria to consider hosting the next OIC Social Development Conference and annual cultural festivals while encouraging stronger Nigerian representation in managerial positions within the organization.

Both sides agreed on the need for sustained high-level engagement and practical cooperation for the benefit of Nigeria, OIC member states, and the wider Islamic world.

Ahmed also assured the visiting OIC official that Nigeria would participate in the forthcoming OIC Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting scheduled to hold in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on August 27, 2026.

The meeting is expected to feature the election of a new secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.