Nigeria, EU to Enhance Research Cooperation Agreement

The Federal Government of Nigeria and the European Union (EU) are set to strengthen research capacities in Nigerian universities and other institutions through a formal negotiation of a bilateral science and technology cooperation agreement. This initiative was marked during a meeting held at Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology in Abuja.

The agreement is part of the EU-Nigeria strategic dialogue and aims to align with the EU's innovation agenda from 2023 to 2033. It is expected to provide a long-term political and legal framework for cooperation, enhancing Nigeria's research ecosystem at a time when innovation is central to national development.

The agreement will include the establishment of a joint science and technical cooperation committee to ensure effective implementation. The EU ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, emphasized that this historic strategy builds on existing research collaborations, particularly through the Horizon Europe program, which has already funded 55 projects involving Nigerian entities.

The negotiations are anticipated to conclude by early 2027, with an action plan developed to prioritize areas for collaboration.