The European Union (EU) has announced it’s taken concrete steps to deepen its partnership with Nigeria in areas of digital transformation, research, and innovation, marking a new phase in their bilateral cooperation aimed at driving sustainable and inclusive development.
Speaking at the University of Lagos’ 18th Annual Research Conference, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, emphasised that the collaboration seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s research and innovation ecosystem with particular focus on digitalisation, climate resilience, and green growth.
According to him, the EU’s engagement with Nigeria is guided by shared priorities that empower scientists, innovators, and young researchers to transform knowledge into practical solutions across critical sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), renewable energy, and health.
‘Science is most efficient when it is universal, not when it bumps into borders,’ Ambassador Mignot said. ‘The European Union and its Member States are investing in research that advances the same green, digital and inclusive transition we are pursuing in Europe, and we are proud to work with Nigeria to achieve this.’
As part of efforts to further institutionalize cooperation, Ambassador Mignot revealed that the European Commission has proposed opening negotiations with Nigeria on a Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Agreement.
The proposed accord, he explained, will create new opportunities for joint research projects, academic exchanges, and investments in technology infrastructure.
‘This agreement will help bring our researchers, innovators and universities even closer together,’ he said. ‘It will strengthen Nigeria’s role in the global innovation landscape and open more opportunities for young researchers and entrepreneurs.’
Highlighting ongoing initiatives, the Ambassador pointed to the EU’s flagship Horizon Europe programme; a nearly pound 100 billion funding mechanism that supports global research and innovation collaborations.
He stressed that Nigerian researchers are eligible to participate under the framework.
‘Horizon Europe is open to Nigerian researchers because the pursuit of knowledge belongs to all humankind,’ Mignot noted. ‘When science connects people, it builds a stronger, fairer and more sustainable world.’
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, lauded the EU’s growing support, describing the partnership as a milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward strengthening its research capacity and leveraging innovation for development.
‘Africa must embrace innovation that responds to our realities,’ Professor Ogunsola said. ‘Partnerships like this enable us to translate research into practical solutions, from sustainable energy to health and AI, that improve lives and empower communities.’
She disclosed that the University is investing in a Human-Centred AI Research Hub that prioritizes ethical and inclusive innovation. ‘AI offers Africa not just a chance to catch up but to lead in shaping the future,’ she said.
Adding a student perspective, Salami Mayowa Michael, a PhD candidate in Estate Management at the University of Lagos, expressed optimism about the expanding collaboration. ‘AI is changing everything about how we learn and research,’ he said.
‘We can now access data, collaborate across continents and even conduct property evaluations with drones.
‘The EU’s support will give us the opportunity to leverage these tools more effectively and transform the way we teach, learn and innovate.’
Through this renewed partnership, the European Union and Nigeria are positioning research and innovation as vital engines for sustainable progress, fostering a relationship that bridges continents and drives a future built on knowledge, technology, and shared prosperity.