ISTANBUL

The Turkish and Nigerian first ladies met in Istanbul on Saturday to discuss women's empowerment and cultural exchanges.

Emine Erdogan, the wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, held a meeting with Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Oluremi Tinubu visited Istanbul at the invitation of Emine Erdogan, and the two met at the Vahdettin Pavilion.

During the meeting, Tinubu expressed her gratitude to Erdogan for the invitation and hospitality.

Erdogan congratulated Tinubu and her husband, who took office a year ago.

Erdogan emphasized Nigeria's rich culture and population, highlighting Nigeria's importance as a friendly country for Türkiye and expressing her belief that relations would strengthen and grow under Tinubu's tenure.

Erdogan noted Türkiye's sincere relations with African countries, stating their commitment to providing support and assistance to African nations.

Tinubu acknowledged Erdogan's special interest in and support for Africa, stating that she closely follows her initiatives.

Erdogan told Tinubu about the Africa Handicrafts and Culture House, where handmade products by African women are sold, and the women get the proceeds.

Tinubu praised the project, stating that Nigeria's diverse ethnic groups and languages contribute to its cultural richness and expressing her pleasure to promote this richness through the Africa Handicrafts and Culture House project.