Nigeria-EU Partnership Deepens at 10th Business Forum in Lagos
Nigeria and the European Union have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their strategic economic partnership, with government officials and European partners noting that ongoing reforms and stronger policy coordination are positioning Nigeria for increased investment and long-term private-sector-led growth.
Oduwole Signals Nigeria’s Reform Drive as EU Partnership Enters New Phase
The forum marked the first major engagement since Nigeria and the EU elevated their relationship to a strengthened Strategic Partnership during the March 2026 EU–Nigeria Ministerial Meeting, underscoring a shared resolve to transform political goodwill into tangible economic outcomes.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole said the forum reflected growing confidence in Nigeria’s reform agenda and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building a more competitive investment climate. “Our work here as government is simple: to listen, to partner, to further our collaborative interventions,” she said, adding that business insights from the forum would help inform policies to improve Nigeria’s competitiveness and attract greater investment.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, noted that the European Union already accounts for 31 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign trade and remains the country’s largest source of foreign direct investment. He described the gathering as the first concrete illustration of the partnership’s new direction.
Economic cooperation is gaining momentum through the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, expanded European Investment Bank operations, the commencement of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development activities in Nigeria, and a structured Nigeria-EU trade and investment dialogue.
The Nigeria-EU partnership spans trade, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, digital innovation, and governance reforms, with the bilateral framework now designed to accelerate economic diversification, industrialisation, and climate resilience as Nigeria pushes to attract long-term domestic and foreign capital.
