The Federal Government is advancing plans to enhance research financing to accelerate commercialisation and enterprise development, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Kingsley Udeh, announced on Thursday.
Udeh made the remarks in Abuja at the Nigeria EU Science and Innovation Day, a gathering of policymakers, researchers, innovators, and private sector actors aimed at deepening cooperation and strengthening institutional partnerships.
In his keynote address, the minister highlighted priority areas for collaboration, including agricultural productivity and food security, digital transformation, and emerging technologies. He noted that implementation would be coordinated through an inter ministerial framework chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
“The Federal Government is advancing plans to strengthen research financing mechanisms and expand international research partnerships in order to accelerate commercialisation and support enterprise development,” Udeh said.
Ambassador Gautier Mignot, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, described the partnership as grounded in joint ownership and co creation rather than a one way transfer of knowledge. He stressed that science and innovation are critical to inclusive and sustainable development, addressing challenges like food security, digital connectivity, and climate resilience.
Nienke Buisman, Director for International Cooperation in Research and Innovation at the European Commission, noted that Nigeria is among the leading African participants in Horizon Europe. Nigerian universities, start ups, and SMEs are partnering with European counterparts on strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence, sustainable agriculture, fintech, and climate adaptation under the AU EU Innovation Agenda.
EU Nigeria cooperation has grown steadily, with 55 Horizon Europe projects receiving about €20 million in funding and 12 Global Health EDCTP3 projects attracting around €75 million involving 15 Nigerian organisations. Stakeholders were encouraged to consolidate collaborations, strengthen institutional linkages, and scale joint research efforts.
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