Nigeria: Poland - Reaching Out to Nigeria

Economic relations between Poland and Nigeria as well as other African countries have been growing steadily over the years. These ties will be strengthened with the participation of Nigeria and other countries in trade exhibition in that country that is a member of the European Union, writes Hilda Okoisor

By 2012, five years from now Poland, Europe's fastest growing economy, plans to host the world in a city classified as the fourth largest to showcase among other things, their enterprise, culture and opportunities.

Such opportunities would be in the area of business development, financial institutions, consulting companies and entrepreneurs association, with market incentives aimed at attracting foreign investors. Poland's position on the international arena continues to grow stronger, and also prides as a member nation of such important world bodies like European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

As a way of positioning itself for the challenges ahead, and to let the world have a peep into its recently market oriented and open society, it is geared towards hosting a prestigious event on global scale such as the Expo being organised by the International Bureau of Exhibitions.

Organising an expo of the magnitude envisaged in 2012 is on the one hand an honour and elevation of the country's prestige in the comity of nations. It is also a confirmation of the country's credibility as a viable economic partner with immense potentials. Again, such world economic summit provides a development impulse that serves as an instrument for encouraging long-term economic activities; hence the reason Poland is devoting its utmost attention to gain the hosting right.

As the only European country applying for the organisation of EXPO, Poland sees it as an occasion to invite guests from across the world to their country, especially as it would create a unique opportunity to promote the country, which many analysts see as having the potentials to rise up to the challenges and responsibility of hosting an event of that magnitude, and within a space of ten years could compete favourably with industrialised nations like United Kingdom, Canada and United States.

The rising profile of Poland is traceable to the social and economic system transformation started in the early 1990's by its former President, Mr. Lech Walesa of the famous Solidarity Movement which has led to favourable development environment, to such an extent that today Poland is an investment haven, with numerous legislations enacted to ease foreign investments.

Already one of Poland's most important cities, Wroclaw, conducive for investments has been designated to host the event. With a population of about six hundred and fifty thousand people and located at the foot of the Sudety Mountains, and over the Odra River, separated by many tributaries and channels, Wroclaw is unique in many ways. For example the city harbours twelve islands with one hundred and twelve bridges, and has become a major centre of industries, trade, culture, university, science and also economic activities.

In 2005 alone, multinational organisations such as Siemens, LG Phillips, Volvo, Hewlett Packard, Whirlpool, Fagor, Wabco and 3M invested well over one billion Euros (abut one hundred and seventy billion Naira) in Wroclaw.

Also in nearby city of Kobierzyce, world electronics giant LG Phillips is investing as much as eight hundred million Euros (about one hundred and forty billion Naira) and this accounts for the largest single investment in Poland's history after the world war II.

Wroclaw is also an open and modern town offering excellent conditions for work due to high development dynamics and for leisure, thus providing the necessary attraction for investors and tourists alike. The city is notable for its vibrancy for life with a lot of young people, and where old and modern architecture meet with abundance of green areas.

For tourists, some historical monuments they may find attractive are the Ostrow Tumski which represents one of the most beautiful churches in the world built in the middle ages, and the Town Hall, located in the heart of Wroclaw, known as one of the most eminent gothic architectural samples. Another important sight to behold is the Market Place, which as they say in Poland is "veiled in an atmosphere of mystery" with its many interesting spots creating magic climate.

Worthy of note, as a tourist attraction while visiting Wroclaw is the "Panorama of Raclawice", a gigantic round building housing a panoramic picture measuring 120m x 15m in size, depicting the famous "Battle of Raclawice" during the Kosciuszko uprising in 1794.

Wroclaw, as an academic center also hosts such important institutions like the University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw Polytechnic and a medical academy. Ten Nobel Prize Laureates are known to have link to the city.

Having giving this historical background of Poland and its important city of Wroclaw, one is compelled to make a case for the hosting right of Expo 2012 to be given to Poland. Nigeria, as an important member of the global organization, the International Bureau of Exhibitions should play a role in this regard, considering the strategic partnership between the two countries.

As far back as early nineteenth century, Polish missionaries, and entrepreneurs were among the first to come to Nigeria, and offer help in the areas of healthcare provision, educational, cultural and economic development. Indeed, the polish missionaries are reputed for their immense humanitarian services to Nigeria unlike others that came to exploit our weaknesses and abundant natural and human resources for their own good.

It should be noted that though Morocco and South Korea are bidding for the same hosting right, but the point remains that Morocco up till today is not a member of the African Union and to Nigeria is of no strategic importance. Poland, on the other hand with its high level of industrial development and as the fastest growing economy in Europe can serve as a role model to Nigeria, as we stand to benefit from its rich history that has within a period of about twenty years catapulted to a nation of influence in global affairs.

A primary lesson in international relations is the ability to identify and do business with nations from which you are likely to maximize benefits for your citizens. Nigeria in this case would benefit significantly from an economic cooperation with Poland and one major step that it should take is to support Poland in its bid to host the Expo 2012.

To cite one example of Poland's assistance to Nigeria, I recall the humanitarian activities of Dr. Oswald Madecki who devoted the greater part of his life, serving Nigerians at the popular Sacred Heart Hospital, Abeokuta, Ogun State. In fact, historical accounts have it that this man died without leaving any savings, as he used all the resources available to him to help the poor and needy in the society.

From Abeokuta to Kano, Enugu, Jos and other Nigerian towns, we have different accounts of how Poles have contributed to the development of Nigeria. To support their bidding right for this all-important event would only lend credence to the maxim that one good turn deserves another, more so when such partnership portends great benefits to a developing nation such as Nigeria.

Source:By Hilda Okoisor Lagos, allafrica.com