As part of efforts to foster international parliamentary collaboration, Senator Yunus Akintunde, who represents Oyo Central Senatorial District, participated in the Korea Foundation Invitation Program for Distinguished Guests in Parliament, held in South Korea from April 20 to 26, 2025.
Organised by the Korea Foundation—a public diplomacy agency under South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs—the event hosted select legislators from around the world, including Senator Ivan Alberto Flores Garcia (Chile), Ahmed Ezzat Manna (Egypt), Edin Darlek (Serbia), and Martin Ivan Yeza (Argentina). Senator Akintunde was the only Nigerian invited.
Chairman of the Nigerian Senate Committee on Environment, Akintunde engaged in high-level meetings at the Korea Legislative Research Institute and attended a session at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security. Briefings were led by Prof. Ban Kil Joo and Prof. Sung Jisun, renowned experts on security and defence.
Speaking on the experience, Akintunde said: “This engagement provided me a valuable platform to join global legislative leaders in addressing pressing international challenges and forging strategic partnerships.”
He also met with Mr. Kin Youngchee, President of the Korea Foundation, to explore deeper Nigeria–Korea ties. “As part of the program, I held a productive meeting with Mr. Kin Youngchee, the President of the Korea Foundation, where we explored ways to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and South Korea, particularly in areas such as environmental sustainability, energy development, education, and innovation,” he said.
The senator also visited a greenhouse in Seoul. “The visit also afforded me opportunity of embarking on visit to greenhouse in Seoul, which provided offered insights into climate-resilient farming, precision agriculture, and green technologies—tools we must embrace in Nigeria to enhance food security and environmental stewardship,” he added.
