The European Union and the Nigeria have formally opened negotiations on a bilateral Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement, setting the stage for deeper research collaboration and innovation-driven growth.
The inaugural meeting took place at Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology in Abuja, marking a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen institutional partnerships and build a more robust innovation ecosystem. The negotiations come just ahead of the second EU-Nigeria Science and Innovation Day scheduled for February 24, 2026, in Lagos.
The proposed agreement is rooted in commitments made during the 2023 EU-Nigeria Strategic Dialogue and the 2024 EU-Nigeria Summit. It also aligns with the AU-EU Innovation Agenda (2023–2033). Once concluded, the pact will establish a long-term political and legal framework to review past collaborations, define shared priorities, and scale up joint initiatives.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, described the launch of negotiations as both historic and strategic. He noted that collaboration between European and Nigerian researchers is already active, particularly under Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme. According to him, the new agreement will provide the structure needed to accelerate and expand such partnerships.
Mignot added that the initiative reflects the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which focuses on building sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships that enhance local capacity and deliver long-term development impact.
Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, described the talks as a defining moment for the country’s research landscape. He stressed that innovation is central to Nigeria’s development agenda and assured that the agreement would translate into measurable results. Udeh revealed that implementation would include the creation of a joint science and technical cooperation committee to oversee concrete actions and outcomes.
Research collaboration between both sides has steadily grown in recent years. Under Horizon Europe, 55 projects involving Nigerian institutions have secured roughly €20 million in funding across sectors including health, agriculture, food systems, and environmental sustainability. Nigeria is also participating in 12 initiatives under the Global Health EDCTP3 programme, attracting about €75 million in total investment, with 15 Nigerian organisations currently involved.
For Nigeria, the agreement is expected to open greater access to European research networks, strengthen institutional capacity, and boost the competitiveness of universities and innovators. It could also attract increased investment into science-based solutions.
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For the European Union, the partnership enhances engagement with Africa’s largest economy and one of its fastest-growing innovation ecosystems. With its youthful population and expanding tech sector, Nigeria offers strong potential for joint solutions to global challenges such as climate change, food security, health resilience, and digital inclusion.
Both parties aim to conclude negotiations by late 2026 or early 2027. An accompanying action plan will be developed to ensure priority areas can be implemented swiftly once the framework is signed.
With political backing on both sides and technical teams now at work, the negotiations signal a long-term commitment to placing science, technology, and innovation at the heart of EU-Nigeria relations.
