Nigeria and the European Union have inked a scientific and technology deal that grants access to about €100 billion in research and innovation funding for scientists, start-ups, and public institutions.
The agreement is a significant boost to the country's tech environment, providing new prospects for research, innovation, and start-up growth.
The arrangement was signed in Abuja by Gautier Mignot, head of the EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, and Kingsley Udeh, Nigeria's minister of innovation, research, and technology.
After more than two decades without a formal framework, the agreement transfers cooperation from informal to structured, large-scale collaboration.
The European Commission's Horizon Europe programme, the world's largest public research budget, is at the heart of the deal, which will bring together Nigerian researchers and firms to work on cross-border projects in health, agriculture, climate, food systems, and new technologies.
Udeh stated that the relationship puts Nigeria as a continental powerhouse for science and enterprise, with an emphasis on translating research into commercially viable products and assisting startups in scaling into global players.
Gautier Mignot noted that Nigerian organisations are already active in several Horizon-backed and global health research projects, but the new pact provides a legal and political framework to significantly expand participation, funding access and visibility.
To ensure delivery, both parties created a Joint Science and Technical Cooperation Committee to drive implementation and track measurable outcomes.
Beyond academia, the agreement aims to support innovators, boost university–industry collaboration, and help more Nigerian tech firms compete globally, strengthening Nigeria’s position as a leading startup hub in Africa.
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