President meets, congratulates first elected black senator in Italy

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met and congratulated Nigerian-born senator in Italy, Mr Toni Iwobi.

Iwobi, who has lived in Italy for 41 years, is the first black man ever to be elected senator in that country.

Buhari, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, met Iwobi on the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York, long with a high-powered team from the Italian Senate.

“My congratulations to you and to Italy more,” President Buhari told Iwobi, who was elected in March this year on the platform of the far-right League Party.

“It shows the advanced respect of Italians for human beings, in spite of colour. It’s very impressive.” he added

The team from Italy discussed issues like illegal migration and how it can be curbed through investments in Africa, recharge of the Lake Chad via inter-basin water transfer, among others.

“Africa doesn’t need charity, but collaboration to develop,” Senator Iwobi declared.

Responding, President Buhari noted that what causes irregular migration from developing to developed countries include lack of security, education, health care, among others, stressing: “Climate change has had negative impact on a big country like Nigeria. That is why our youths often defy the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea, to try and get to Europe. It is a problem that needs to be solved.”

The Italian Senate delegation plans to visit Nigeria in due course.