In a renewed effort to drive reforms in gender inclusion, mining development, and governance, Nigeria has opened strategic bilateral engagement with Australia and Rwanda, targeting collaborative reforms across critical sectors. Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, revealed this during separate high-level meetings with delegations from the Australian High Commission and the Rwandan Embassy at the National Assembly on Thursday in Abuja.
Speaking during the visit, Kalu underscored Nigeria’s vast untapped mineral resources and called for stronger technical and investment partnerships with Australia—a global leader in sustainable mining. He noted that knowledge-sharing with Australian experts could bolster Nigeria’s drive for responsible resource extraction, environmental safety, and community-inclusive development.
“By advancing partnerships with Australian mining companies, we can enhance job creation, boost local economies, and ensure that our natural resources contribute meaningfully to national development,” Kalu stated.
The Deputy Speaker further urged Australian stakeholders to support Nigeria’s ongoing constitutional review, particularly efforts aimed at enhancing gender equity and protecting human rights. He referenced the Gender Bills—specifically HB.1349—which seeks to reserve legislative seats for women, describing it as a vital step toward building a more inclusive society.
Kalu also disclosed that discussions are ongoing to review capital punishment laws in Nigeria. He emphasized that while the issue is sensitive, it is being examined carefully under the constitutional amendment process.
In response, the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Leilani Bin-Juda, expressed strong interest in partnering with Nigeria across mining, trade, and investment domains. She revealed that Australia is planning a joint mining initiative with Nigeria’s Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in the coming weeks. Bin-Juda also highlighted her country’s commitment to inclusive development, citing earlier engagements with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on enhancing bilateral cooperation.
In a separate meeting with Rwandan envoy Christophe Bazivamo, Kalu praised Rwanda’s globally recognized achievements in gender representation, noting that women currently hold 63.75% of seats in the country’s Chamber of Deputies and 53.8% in the Senate—setting a global benchmark for inclusive governance.
“As Nigeria embarks on constitutional reforms, we are eager to draw inspiration from Rwanda’s model, especially in areas of gender representation and security reforms,” Kalu noted.
He advocated for deeper inter-parliamentary cooperation between Nigeria and Rwanda to promote shared growth through legislative alignment, technological advancement, and regional peacebuilding.
Bazivamo responded by proposing the creation of a Nigeria-Rwanda Parliamentary Friendship Group and broader collaboration on legislative drafting, oversight, and digital transformation within both countries’ parliaments.
These diplomatic engagements align with Nigeria’s broader goal of repositioning its economy and governance through foreign partnerships. With both Australia and Rwanda offering distinct advantages—technological strength in mining and best practices in gender-inclusive politics respectively—Nigeria stands to benefit significantly from knowledge exchange and institutional collaboration.
Observers say these dialogues signal Nigeria’s growing openness to global partnerships that can deliver reforms across extractive industries, gender equity, and democratic governance. The Deputy Speaker’s active diplomacy reinforces the National Assembly’s role in driving Nigeria’s constitutional evolution and international cooperation.
As constitutional amendments gather pace, the 10th National Assembly is expected to prioritize bills that address systemic gaps, promote inclusive development, and unlock sectoral investments in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.