Italy has elected it’s first black senator, Toni Iwobi of Nigerian origin and living in Italy for 41 years.
On the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York, Thursday, he met with President Buhari along 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.”
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,” Iwobi said.
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 Nigeria.”
