Diplomats, business leaders gather as Nigeria marks 66th Independence Anniversary in Riyadh

L-R: Director General of the General
Directorate of Diplomatic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ali bin Abdullah Al-Shehri; Mayor of Riyadh Region, His Highness Prince
Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf and Ambassador of Nigeria, His Excellency Dr. Yakubu Gambo, to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at Nigeria’s 66th
Independence Anniversary reception in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Director General of the General
Directorate, Diplomatic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ali bin Abdullah Al-Shehri; Mayor of Riyadh Region, His Highness Prince
Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin AyyAyya and Ambassador of Nigeria, His Excellency Dr. Yakubu N. Gambo, to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at Nigeria’s 66th
Independence Anniversary reception in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Stanley Ihedigbo

Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary was celebrated in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a dignified National Day reception that brought together senior Saudi officials, diplomats, business leaders, members of the Nigerian community and other stakeholders.

The event, held on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at the Cultural Palace in the Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh, was hosted by the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Dr. Yakubu N. Gambo.

The reception attracted prominent representatives of the Saudi government, diplomatic corps, Nigerian community, business sector, defence and military establishments, as well as professionals and friends of Nigeria.

Representing His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of Riyadh Region, was His Highness Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, Mayor of Riyadh Region. Also present was Ali bin Abdullah Al-Shehri, Director General of the General Directorate of Diplomatic Affairs at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ceremony also attracted several ambassadors and senior diplomatic representatives, including H.E. Jean-Philippe Linteau, Ambassador of Canada to Saudi Arabia; H.E. Coulibaly Drissa, Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire; H.E. Javier Carbajosa, Ambassador of Spain; H.E. Mohammed S. Barrie, Ambassador of Sierra Leone; and H.E. Amara S. Sackor, Ambassador of Liberia, alongside other members of the diplomatic community and defence attachés.

Among the Nigerian guests was Honourable Professor Umar Adam Katsayal, mni, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Transportation, Daura, Nigeria.

The event also attracted business leaders and senior Nigerian professionals based in Saudi Arabia, including Folajimi Daodu, Chief Executive Officer of Safira; Solomon Animashaun, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TAG AI; Lawrence Eta, Global AI Advisor; and members of the leadership of the Digital Cooperation Organization.

The celebration provided an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, hospitality and national identity, while highlighting the country’s growing diplomatic, economic and cultural engagement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The reception further served as a platform for strengthening relationships among Nigerian and Saudi government officials, diplomats, business leaders, professionals and members of the Nigerian diaspora.
Safira, a Riyadh-based strategic events and market-access company, curated and organised the celebration in collaboration with the Nigerian Embassy, contributing to the successful staging of the National Day reception.

The gathering ultimately provided an avenue for Nigeria to project its cultural identity and national heritage in the Kingdom while fostering greater engagement and collaboration across government, diplomacy, business and the Nigerian community.

The celebration underscored the Embassy’s commitment to deepening Nigeria-Saudi Arabia relations and creating stronger platforms for diplomatic, economic and cultural cooperation.