The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has called for deeper diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, with education at the center of the push. He made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving the Kingdom’s new ambassador to Nigeria, Yousef bin Mohammed Al-Balawi.
Abbas described the relationship between the two countries as long-standing and significant, noting that formal diplomatic ties were established in 1961. He said the history provides a strong base to broaden cooperation into new areas that directly benefit citizens.
A key part of his request was for Saudi Arabia to extend scholarship opportunities through the National Assembly. According to the Speaker, lawmakers work closely with communities and can help ensure that educational support reaches people at the grassroots level. 
He praised Saudi Arabia for its consistent investment in Nigerian students over the past four decades. Many respected clerics and scholars in Nigeria, he said, trace their academic foundation to those scholarships. He compared it to a recent initiative by Algeria, which now partners with both the Executive and the Legislature.
Six months ago during a visit to Algeria, Abbas said, an agreement was reached to split scholarship slots between the two arms of government. That arrangement is already moving forward, with over 200 slots being processed for distribution by the Nigerian Parliament.
Abbas expressed hope that Saudi Arabia would adopt a similar model during Al-Balawi’s tenure. He argued that involving Parliament would make the process more representative, since it is a separate arm of government with direct links to the public.
He also pointed to shared interests between the countries. Nigeria has a large Muslim population and is a major oil producer, while Saudi Arabia is regarded as the Islamic capital of the world and a regional leader. Abbas said stronger collaboration could create mutual benefits across economic, political, and social fronts.
Reflecting on cultural ties, the Speaker noted that Nigerians have been connected to Saudi Arabia for more than 800 years. Many families now have multiple generations living there, though some have lost touch with their specific Nigerian roots. He concluded by affirming Nigeria’s regard for Saudi Arabia as a key partner and welcomed continued bilateral engagement.
Ambassador Al-Balawi said his visit was aimed at identifying areas for joint action, stressing that the two nations have maintained relations for decades. He pledged to work within diplomatic channels to strengthen the partnership further.
