Buhari visits Ataturk Mausoleum in Turkey

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday laid a wreath at the mausoleum of Turkey’s founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, before meeting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Palace.

According to a statement signed by Special Assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, he was accompanied by Nigeria’s ambassador to Turkey, Iliyasu Paragalda, and other senior government officials.

President Buhari laid the wreath in red and white colours of the Turkish flag at the tomb of Ataturk and later observed a minute silence.

Afterwards, the statement said, President, signed the official Anitkabir memorial Book of Honour at the Misaki-i Milli Kulesi (National Pact Tower), within the precincts of the mausoleum, and toured the museum.

He wrote: ‘‘It is an honour and privilege to visit Anitkabir, the mausoleum of a great patriotic, visionary and courageous leader who shaped modern Turkey, during my official working visit to Ankara and the ninth D-8 summit in Istanbul.

“I pay my profound respect to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Turkey and the first President from 1923 until his death in 1938.

‘‘I am pleased with the friendly relations between Turkey and Nigeria, which has grown in leaps and bounds over the years. I look forward to a more fruitful cooperation between our governments and people in areas of mutual concern and interests, for the benefit of our people.’’

Meanwhile, President Buhari has said Nigeria remains proud of its former Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, for winning the 2017 World Food Prize Laureate.

A separate statement issued by Special Adviser on media and publicity. Femi Adesina on Thursday said Adesina, who is the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), will on Thursday be presented the $250,000 prize and Laureate sculpture at a ceremony at the Iowa State Capitol, United States.

The statement revealed that in a video message, the President said:

“I received with delight the cheery news of your award as 2017 World Food Prize Laureate. Certainly, this did not come to me and many Nigerians as a surprise, given your antecedents and contributions to the development of agriculture across the African continent.

“We are very proud of you.

“According to the World Food Prize Foundation, you won the prize for driving change in African agriculture for over 25 years and improving food security for millions across the continent. Your choice as the winner of the World Food Prize is a clear recognition and appreciation of your long-standing contributions, reflected in your several roles and activities which promote social economic development.

“By dint of hard work, persistence, diligent efforts and God’s sufficient grace, you have risen above many limitations to emerge as a notable figure and a true champion. Your life story mirrors the resilience of the African spirit and doggedness for which Nigerians are well known.

“On behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, I congratulate you and rejoice with you, your family and the AfDB family on this well-deserved honour.”

Buhari congratulated the former minister.