Israel has renewed its call for peace across the Middle East while unveiling fresh initiatives aimed at strengthening economic, agricultural and healthcare cooperation with Nigeria.
Speaking at celebrations marking Israel’s 78th Independence Anniversary in Abuja, Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, said his country remains committed to the vision of peace outlined by Israel’s founding leaders despite decades of conflict and security challenges.
Drawing from a personal family connection to Israel’s founding in 1948, Freeman recalled the words of the country’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, who called for cooperation and peaceful coexistence with neighbouring states at the birth of the Israeli nation.
The ambassador said that vision remains central to Israel’s foreign policy today, arguing that the country has consistently sought peaceful relations despite repeated conflicts in the region.
He pointed to the Abraham Accords as evidence that dialogue and cooperation can transform relationships in the Middle East, creating opportunities for economic growth, innovation and regional stability.
Freeman, however, accused Iran and its regional allies of undermining efforts to achieve lasting peace. He cited recent tensions involving Lebanon and ongoing missile attacks on Israeli communities, saying millions of Israelis had been forced into bomb shelters as hostilities escalated.
According to him, the people of Israel, Lebanon and the wider Middle East deserve a future free from violence and conflict.
“It is time to stop allowing Iran and other extremists and outside actors to hold the future of our region hostage,” he said.
Beyond regional security issues, the ambassador devoted significant attention to growing ties between Israel and Nigeria, describing the relationship as one built on innovation, entrepreneurship and shared development goals.
He announced that Israel would launch a fifth cohort of the Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (iFAIR) programme in 2027, providing additional opportunities for Nigerian entrepreneurs to receive mentorship and business development support from Israeli and Nigerian experts.
The programme, he said, has already helped young innovators transform ideas into businesses capable of creating jobs, attracting investment and addressing societal challenges.
Freeman also highlighted ongoing agricultural partnerships between both countries, noting that Israeli technology and seedlings are already being deployed by Nigerian farmers to improve productivity and food security.
He urged guests to view the agricultural products displayed at the event as symbols of what stronger collaboration could achieve across Nigeria’s farming sector.
“Imagine that success multiplied across Nigeria—higher yields, stronger rural communities, greater food security, and millions upon millions of lives improved,” he said.
In another major announcement, the ambassador disclosed that the first three fully equipped ambulances donated by Israel were on their way to Nigeria. He described the donation as a practical demonstration of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
According to him, the ambulances will help strengthen emergency response capabilities and save lives in critical situations.
Freeman said Israel intends to further expand cooperation with Nigeria in healthcare, education, security, innovation, agriculture and skills development, stressing that such partnerships represent investments in a shared future rather than acts of charity.
Reflecting on Israel’s journey since independence, the envoy highlighted how the country had transformed itself from a resource-poor nation facing severe security threats into a global leader in technology, medicine, cybersecurity, water management and agriculture.
He attributed Israel’s success to its ability to turn challenges into opportunities, saying the same spirit could drive transformative progress through deeper collaboration with Nigeria.
“The future of Israel-Nigeria relations will not be defined by speeches. It will be defined by entrepreneurs who build companies, farmers who increase their harvests, doctors and paramedics who save lives, and young people who refuse to accept limitations,” he said.
The anniversary celebration underscored the growing diplomatic and economic ties between both countries as they seek to expand cooperation in areas critical to development, innovation and regional stability.
Michael Olugbode
