The Nigerian government is advancing plans to bolster research financing and international partnerships to accelerate the commercialisation of innovations and support enterprise development. This initiative was announced by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Kingsley Udeh, during the Nigeria-EU Science and Innovation Day in Abuja.
The event gathered policymakers, researchers, innovators, and private-sector actors to deepen cooperation and strengthen institutional ties between Nigeria and the European Union. Dr Udeh stated that priority collaborative areas will focus on agricultural productivity, food security, digital transformation, and emerging technologies. He specified that implementation will be coordinated through an inter-ministerial framework chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, emphasised that the partnership is founded on co-creation and joint ownership, moving beyond simple knowledge transfer. He underscored that science and innovation are central to achieving inclusive and sustainable development, particularly in tackling food security, digital connectivity, and climate resilience. The EU’s engagement, he explained, aims to reinforce Nigeria’s national innovation systems, build institutional capacity, and create effective pathways from research to market. This includes ongoing collaboration under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, supporting digital transformation, innovation ecosystems, and creative industry financing.
Nienke Buisman, Director for International Cooperation in Research and Innovation at the European Commission, highlighted Nigeria’s prominent role as a leading African participant in Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research programme. Nigerian universities, start-ups, and SMEs are already collaborating with European counterparts in strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence, sustainable agriculture, fintech, and climate adaptation under the AU–EU Innovation Agenda. Buisman framed continued discussions as an opportunity to consolidate these efforts within a coherent, forward-looking framework, calling for stronger institutional linkages and scaled joint research.
The partnership is already yielding tangible results. Under Horizon Europe, 55 projects involving Nigerian entities have secured approximately €20 million in funding across health, agriculture, food systems, and environmental sectors. Furthermore, Nigeria participates in 12 projects under the Global Health EDCTP3 programme, attracting around €75 million in total investment with involvement from 15 Nigerian organisations.
This expanding cooperation signifies a strategic alignment between Nigeria’s development priorities and the EU’s research and innovation agenda, aiming to translate scientific advancement into concrete economic and societal benefits.
