Former Senate Leader and Pro-Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, yesterday called for a strategic shift in Nigeria-Taiwan relations from conventional trade to deeper technological partnerships in agriculture.
Ndoma-Egba, who is also Grand Patron of the Hybrid Culture, Technology and Innovation Promotion Initiative (HyCuTIPI), made the call while delivering a goodwill message at the opening of the Taiwan Smart Agriweek 2026 in Taipei.
The event, held at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre from September 8 to 10, brought together diplomats, agricultural innovators, agronomists, investors, researchers, technology executives and policymakers.
The former Senate Leader was part of a high-level Nigerian delegation coordinated by HyCuTIPI to participate in the event.
He said Taiwan’s achievements in agricultural technology offered useful lessons for Nigeria and other African countries seeking solutions to food insecurity, unemployment and low agricultural productivity.
Ndoma-Egba said: ‘Taiwan offers an instructive example of what becomes possible when knowledge, technology, innovation and enterprise are deliberately deployed to transform agriculture.
‘That experience holds considerable relevance for Nigeria and, indeed, for many African economies seeking to increase productivity, strengthen food security and create sustainable employment.
‘Nigeria possesses significant agricultural resources, a large and youthful population and one of Africa’s largest consumer markets. The opportunity before us is to connect these advantages more deliberately with technology, investment, skills, infrastructure, research and efficient value chains.
‘This presents a compelling opportunity for deeper Taiwan-Nigeria cooperation. Our relationship should move beyond conventional buyer-seller transactions towards enduring partnerships in technology transfer, joint ventures, smart agriculture, aquaculture, agricultural processing, renewable energy, digital farming, research, skills development and agricultural finance.
‘The ambition should not simply be to import technology. It should be to adapt, localise, improve and eventually co-create technologies suited to African realities, while creating sustainable value for Taiwanese partners.’
He stressed the importance of universities in driving agricultural transformation, citing his position at FUOYE.
The HyCuTIPI Grand Patron said: ‘As Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, I am equally persuaded that universities must occupy a central place in this transformation.
‘Stronger partnerships between Taiwanese and Nigerian universities can accelerate joint research, technology incubation, skills development, innovation, commercialisation and the preparation of a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs.
‘Africa’s food-security challenges should therefore be seen not only as development concerns, but as significant opportunities for responsible investment and innovation.
‘We must build value chains that reduce post-harvest losses, improve farmers’ incomes, create jobs, expand processing capacity and strengthen resilience across the food system.
‘I therefore invite Taiwanese companies, financial institutions, research organisations and technology providers to regard Nigeria not merely as a market, but as a long-term partner for investment, innovation and co-creation.
‘I commend the organisers of Taiwan Smart Agriweek for creating this important platform, and I acknowledge HyCuTIPI’s continuing commitment to strengthening technology, innovation and economic linkages between Nigeria and Taiwan.’
Ndoma-Egba said the future of agriculture would increasingly depend on smart technologies, digital solutions, sustainability and knowledge.
He added: ‘The future of agriculture is increasingly smart, digital, sustainable and knowledge-driven. Nigeria’s private sector, universities and innovation community are ready for partnerships that can translate these possibilities into shared prosperity.
‘May Taiwan-Nigeria economic and technological cooperation continue to flourish, and may the partnership among HyCuTIPI, MY Exhibition Co., Ltd. and our Taiwanese partners grow from strength to strength.’
Other members of the Nigerian delegation included HyCuTIPI President, Ambassador David Ademola Adejuwon; its Legal Adviser, Barrister Peter Kayode Abodunrin; FUOYE Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joshua Ogunwole; and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho (FUNATO), Oyo State, Professor Jacob Babayemi.
HyCuTIPI is a not-for-profit organisation registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), with a mandate to promote linkages in technology, innovation, culture and global economic opportunities for inclusive development in Nigeria.
The organisation said its vision is to leverage global technology and innovation for sustainable national economic growth and development, while its mission is to build strategic, private-sector-driven economic partnerships for a better future.