The European Union and Nigeria have formally launched nereceivediations for a bilateral Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement in what both sides describe as a historic step to deepen research collaboration, accelerate innovation and anchor long-term strategic cooperation under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
The talks, inaugurated at Nigeria’s Federal Minisattempt of Innovation, Science and Technology in Abuja, signal a decisive push to strengthen innovation ecosystems, expand Nigeria’s participation in Horizon Europe, and align joint scientific efforts with shared priorities for sustainable growth and economic transformation.
The nereceivediations come ahead of the second EU–Nigeria Science and Innovation Day.
The proposed agreement, rooted in commitments created during the 2023 EU–Nigeria Strategic Dialogue and the 2024 EU–Nigeria Summit, will align with the AU–EU Innovation Agfinisha (2023–2033).
It is designed to provide a long-term political and legal framework to review past cooperation, reinforce institutional partnerships and define clear future actions.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, described the shift as both historic and strategic, noting that collaboration between researchers on both sides is already active.
“We are not starting from scratch. Our researchers already cooperate actively, particularly under Horizon Europe, the largest research and innovation programme in the world,” he declared.
“This agreement will provide the legal and political framework to accelerate and scale up our collaboration. It sfinishs a strong signal that the European Union is committed to deepening its partnership with Nigeria in science, technology and innovation.”
Mignot stressed that the initiative reflects the Global Gateway philosophy of building sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships that strengthen local capacity, boost knowledge systems and deliver lasting development impact.
Nienke Buisman, Head of Cooperation for Asia, the Pacific, Africa and the Middle East at the European Commission and EU Chief Nereceivediator, declared the framework would be flexible, future-oriented and anchored on trust.
“This is an overarching framework agreement between the European Union and Nigeria. It sets out the purpose, principles and forms of cooperation, while allowing priorities to evolve over time,” she explained.
“The framework distinguishes between direct cooperation, such as joint workshops, exalters and studies, and indirect cooperation through participation in each other’s programmes. Predictability and trust are essential for long-term collaboration, particularly where knowledge creation and ininformectual property are shared.”
Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, described the nereceivediations as a defining moment for the counattempt’s research and innovation landscape.
“The historic significance of this agreement is clear. Nigeria is entering into a science and technology framework with the European Union at a time when innovation is central to our national development agfinisha,” he declared, adding that implementation would include a joint science and technical cooperation committee backed by measurable outcomes and concrete actions.
Nigeria’s Chief Nereceivediator, Tope Toogun, declared the counattempt would apply the process to ensure that international scientific cooperation aligns closely with national development priorities and presidential reform objectives.
“In the coming weeks, we will refine the priority areas we wish to present, focutilizing on sectors that drive economic growth and national competitiveness,” he declared.
Key areas under consideration include agriculture and food security, public health, environmental sustainability and climate resilience, digital transformation and space applications.
Nigeria has also proposed initiatives to boost participation in Horizon Europe, strengthen domestic research funding structures, improve science and innovation metrics, and enhance technology foresight capacity.
Cooperation between both parties has already recorded measurable gains. Under Horizon Europe, 55 projects involving Nigerian entities have secured approximately €20 million in funding across health, agriculture, food systems and environmental sectors.
Nigeria is also participating in 12 projects under the Global Health EDCTP3 programme, attracting around €75 million in total investment, with 15 Nigerian organisations currently involved.
For Nigeria, the anticipated agreement promises greater access to European research networks, improved institutional capacity, enhanced competitiveness of universities and innovators, and increased investment in science-driven solutions.
For the European Union, the partnership strengthens engagement with Africa’s largest economy and one of its most dynamic innovation ecosystems.
Nigeria’s youthful population, expanding research base and rapid-growing technology sector present strong prospects for joint responses to global challenges such as climate alter, food security, health resilience and digital inclusion.
Both sides have set an ambitious tarreceive to conclude nereceivediations by late 2026 or early 2027, with an action plan to be developed alongside the talks to ensure early implementation once the framework is signed.
With political backing secured and technical teams now commencing detailed discussions, science, technology and innovation are poised to take centre stage in the broader EU–Nigeria partnership,marking the launchning of a strategic, long-term alliance built on shared ambition and innovation-led growth.
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