The European Union has launched the Africa–Europe Partnerships for Culture Nigeria Cluster, a €30 million project aimed at promoting international collaboration opportunities for Nigerian artists, cultural organisations, and creative professionals across Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. The initiative, implemented by the Goethe-Institut, seeks to advance mutual exchange and co-creation between the two continents.
According to EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, culture is central to sustainable development, social cohesion, and inclusive growth. “We see culture as a driver of mutual understanding, creative innovation, and economic opportunity,” he stated during the launch in Lagos State. The EU’s commitment to culture is part of its Global Gateway strategy, which aims to connect people and create opportunities for sustainable shared prosperity.
The project is expected to facilitate the training of 250 professionals, support 450 artists, and network 48 festivals, ultimately deepening West Africa-EU cultural relations for lasting social and economic gains. The EU has also funded other cultural programmes in Africa, including Strengthening African-European Museum Partnerships and Creative Africa, which will support collaboration between African and European audiovisual ecosystems.
The Goethe-Institut Nigeria Director, Nadine Siegert, noted that the launch of the AEPC Nigeria Cluster represents a landmark milestone in promoting cultural exchange, collaboration, and creative innovation between Africa and Europe. “Nigeria’s creative sector is a force to be reckoned with, diverse, innovative, and increasingly recognised on the global stage,” she said. The institute is committed to supporting and investing in Nigeria’s creative ecosystem through collaboration, capacity building, and visibility and access.
The project will promote cultural cooperation between West African countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, and Nigeria, among others, and the EU. The EU’s commitment to supporting Nigerian creatives in accessing new opportunities for collaboration, training, and global exposure is expected to ensure that no creative is left behind, and that talent from across Nigeria can thrive on international stages. With the launch of the AEPC Nigeria Cluster, the EU has reaffirmed its support for culture as a driver of mutual understanding and economic opportunity between Africa and Europe.