Ambassador Krejci delivering his welcome remarks at the venue
The Czech Republic is a vibrant and respected sovereignty widely known for its ingenuity, industry and integrity. Through hardwork, resilience, sustained democracy, sound leadership, citizen care, invaluable interactions and love for country, modern-day Czech Republic has etched its name in gold becoming a globally sought after.
With an inspiring existence and envied civilization spanning over a century and buoying its progress, Czechia remains a great and friendly country with many positive alliances accelerating its advancement and sustainability. Nonetheless, the freedom and glory enjoyed today didn’t come freely but emerged over a period of time from a series of resolute resistance and demonstrations (including the famed velvet revolution). Salute therefore to the people, patriots and owners of the country, who stood-up against tyrants and oppressors to choose liberty over captivity, freedom over authoritarianism, and who deliberately sought to have a country they can proudly and perpetually call their own in all ramifications of development, a pursuit that has now become a reality.
With an inspiring existence and envied civilization spanning over a century and buoying its progress, Czechia remains a great and friendly country with many positive alliances accelerating its advancement and sustainability.
Czechs at home and all over the world treasures their land and seizes every chance available to celebrate nationhood attainments and progress. And, in this regard, the people gathered again as a national tradition to celebrate with pomp and pageantry its National Day on October 28. This annual commemoration recognises the establishment of Czechoslovakia in 1918, otherwise known as the Independent Czechoslovakia State Day. The day is designated a national holiday, a time of festivity and elation at home and abroad, and in countries cross the world where Czechia’s missions are hosted, Nigeria inclusive.
Embassy leadership led by Ambassador Krejci welcoming guests to the event
Prague and Abuja enjoy unique and mutual ties with many interesting engaging including expansion of trade and investment, increased security and defence cooperation, improved healthcare, burgeoning cultural relations between the peoples, support for better-education and ensuring a safer and prosperous world.
Towards this, Ambassador Krejci and his wonderful wife Mrs. Ivanka Krejcova on behalf of his government and Czechs working, living and visiting Nigeria hosted in the nation’s capital a memorable National Day event at the Abuja Continental Hotel. The evening reception graced by Excellences, Distinguished Representative of Nigeria, diplomats, ladies and gentlemen, and members of the press and Friends of Czechia was a forum for merriment, mingling, meal & drinks serving.
The occasion also afforded Ambassador Krejci, to reel out his country and Embassy’s accomplishments in his 3years meritorious service in Nigeria. In his welcome speech, the Envoy who was delighted by the dignitaries’ present said the get-together was to celebrate Czech State Day, a possibility that originated from the founding of Czechoslovakia in October 1918, stressing on its wide-ranging importance to the Czech and Slovakian industry, education, culture, democratic sustenance and overall national life and improvements.
And, in the spirit of cordiality, Czechia and Nigeria continue to cement cords of colourful and commendable collaborations. Profound appreciation to His Excellency (Mr.) Zdenek Krejci, a first rated diplomat, whose leading roles are helping in no small terms to advance these mutual gains.
The Ambassador underscored the almost 32 years of successful existence of the Czech Republic after peaceful division of the Czech and Slovak into their respective national estate; stating that both countries are proud to be able to accomplish this in such a peaceful and fair way, even as they remain active partners in progress. He also admitted that the post collaboration widely applauded is possible because the countries (Czech and Slovak) are members of the European Union, where economic, political, educational and culture cooperation is much easier than in the days of pure national states.
Exquisite cuisines and drinks served
The Envoy remarked that membership of NATO also provides his country with reliable security, and this becomes even more crucial with the current war of Russia against Ukraine in Europe and other spates of increasing insecurity in many other continents including Africa.
For him, while Czech Republic fully supports the goals and missions of NATO and other security and development bodies it variously belongs to, the country is also doing its best to support growths, and helping to solve, or at least contain conflicts in regions where its interests are not even directly affected. He asserted that the age-long and blossoming relations with Nigeria remains strong in the areas of security and defense among others strategic priorities, underlining Czech Republic unwavering assistance to Nigeria, particularly in the fight against terrorism, and cooperation with Nigerian Air Force development through the provision of aircraft and maintenance services, regular training of pilots and technical aids amongst other.
He reinforced Czechia supports for Nigeria’s agriculture integrated development efforts at national and sub-national levels, nothing that there are various projects for the supply of quality Czechia equipment such as tractors, complex water management projects, operation in the field of agric know-how and so on across the states. The Envoy cited the Czech company KNIGHTS, as a concrete example of Czech support for agricultural improvement, innovation and technologies transfer in the country.
Guests at the event
Cross-section of invitees mingling in the cosy & atheistic decorated venue
Elaborating on this, His Excellency said that this year alone the company has delivered 850 tractors to Taraba state including a station for their maintenance and repairs.; while also interesting to note that these tractors were specially adapted by Czech engineers to withstand the West African agricultural conditions. The Ambassador also expressed his delight in meeting and interacting with the Honourable speaker of the state of Taraba state.
Ambassador Krejci also highlighted the Czech Republic commitments in: improved education in Nigeria, the varied scholastic programmes provision, fruitful academic framework involving nation-building debates and reflections of Czech-Nigerian scholars on the problems of Africa among Nigerian universities, notably at the University of Ibadan and University of Abuja, and the abundance of Nigerian students studying in great learning institutions in the Czech Republic, stressing that his leadership will continue to ensure education diplomacy promotions with Nigeria.
Speaking further, Ambassador Krejci informed the guests of the stimulating and educative COOL CZECHIA: a current flagship program comprising gatherings of Young Africans interested in Czech Republic affairs, with its second edition just held in October 2024. He pointed out that three participants from Nigeria were among other bright Africans chosen in the strong selection process and participants from this last year educative trip were also present at the reception.
ANIM Abuja Bureau Head, Mr. Moses Taiwo in photos with cross section of Ambassadors at the event
The radiantly looking host acknowledged that so much has taken place and more are being expected in Czechia and Nigeria relations, but as always time will not permit him to fully express all of these exploits at the reception. He therefore urged the attendees, who obviously had a great time in the exquisitely decorated venue with national emblems and colours, to fully maximise the relaxation opportunity and enjoy the tastes of some of the interesting Czech Republic traditional dishes such as goulash, chiebicky, potato pancakes, bread chops, escalopes, kuladja, couple of eggs served at the occasion, while humouredly appreciating his colleague Ambassadors from Slovakia, Hungary, Austrian and Germany and others Head of Missions present for already familiarising themselves with these known and tasty delicacies.
On a parting but pleasant note, Ambassador Krejci hinted that having served for about 3 years in Nigeria, his Clock Of Service is gradually ticking towards an exit time next summer, but also assured that there is still ample time to continue the tempo of good works observed before finally bowing out
KUDOS TO AMBASSADOR KREJCI AND HIS PRAGMATIC TEAM FOR WONDERFUL AND COMMENDABLE DIPLOMATIC WORKS IN NIGERIA.
LONG LIVE CZECH REPUBLIC-NIGERIA RELATIONS
Acclaim Nigeria Int’nal Magazine (ANIM) covered the event.
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