Lagos state has announced its plan to establish a Lagos-Nordic Innovation Corridor, a partnership with the Nordic countries such as Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, in a framework designed to connect public institutions, research centres, and private sector partners for technology exchange and investment.
Samuel Egube, deputy chief of staff, representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated this during his address at the fourth annual Nordic Nigeria Connect (NNC) conference held in Lagos.
He called for a deeper collaboration between Nigeria and the Nordic countries, emphasising that Lagos is moving from ‘invitation to implementation’ as its partnerships with these economies begin to deliver tangible results. He vowed that Lagos sill transform into the African launchpad for Nordic innovation, marking a strategic pivot towards sustainable technology, green energy, and digital transformation.
‘Today, Lagos is ready to be the African launchpad for Nordic innovation, a city where sustainable technologies are tested, refined, and scaled to reach millions,’ Egube said. ‘Let this year mark the transition from conversation to co-creation, from joint forums to joint facilities, from planning to scaling.’
He noted that Lagos is already implementing policies in clean energy, electric mobility, agriculture, and digital health, all of which align with the Nordic focus on sustainability and inclusion.
Lina Hansen, Denmark’s secretary of state for trade and investment, described Nigeria as ‘a beacon of democracy, stability, and growth’ in Africa, confirming that the Nordic nations are committed to deepening long-term partnerships. She highlighted Denmark’s new Africa strategy, themed Africa’s Century, which aims to build equal partnerships and drive investment in areas such as food security, digitalisation, and maritime logistics.
Jarno Syrjälä, deputy minister for international trade stressed that the NNC forum is ‘more than a business event’ but a platform for dialogue and innovation, singling out digital transformation, health innovation, and the green energy transition as key collaboration sectors. ‘Together, we can co-create solutions that are commercially viable and socially and environmentally impactful,’ he added.
Focus on digital economy and sustainable growth
In his keynote address, Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy,stressed that collaboration must advance shared prosperity through empathy and trust, leading to innovation that creates jobs and transforms lives.
He positioned the Nordic countries as crucial partners in building a knowledge-based, digitally driven Nigerian economy.
The minister also pointed to ongoing partnerships with Nordic nations in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, satellite technology, and renewable energy, asserting that these will help Nigeria achieve long-term economic transformation.
During a panel session themed ‘Why Nordic, Why Nigeria: Unlocking Shared Value,’ Swedish and Norwegian officials further elaborated on their engagement.
Johan Frisell, Sweden’s deputy director-general for Africa, cited the digital economy, encompassing finTech and edTech, as the strongest link, noting that technology and sustainability are inseparable.
Svein Baera,Norway’s ambassador to Nigeria, offered lessons from his country’s transition from oil dependency, spotlighting the work of Norwegian firms in expanding solar investments across Nigeria.