Nigeria and Sweden have renewed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations in areas of trade, sustainable development, gender equality, and cultural exchange.
This was the outcome of a meeting between Vice President, Kashim Shettima, and Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, held on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Vice President Shettima said Nigeria would remain a dependable ally of Sweden, emphasizing that both countries are poised for a partnership “anchored in innovation, powered by people, and guided by our shared determination to uplift communities and secure prosperity for generations to come.”
This was contained in a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President).
Describing the Crown Princess’s visit as a new chapter in Nigeria-Sweden relations, Shettima stated that it would open doors to deeper institutional ties, stimulate business-to-business collaboration, and foster greater cultural exchange.
“We are particularly excited about opportunities in renewable energy, precision agriculture, healthcare innovation, and gender inclusion—areas where Sweden has much to offer, and Nigeria is eager to learn,” he said.
The Vice President also recalled his visit to Stockholm in October 2024, where he represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the high-level engagements with Swedish leaders and industry captains had since led to tangible outcomes.
“Our meetings in Sweden last year were not ceremonial; they were catalytic. They opened doors to strategic collaborations and renewed our commitment to making Nigeria a fertile ground for innovation, investment, and sustainable development,” Shettima added.
“One of the most consequential outcomes of that visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and Ericsson to support 5G innovation across our country.
“Beyond the digital frontier, Swedish enterprises continue to invest in Nigeria’s human capital and sustainable development. We applaud SchoolTry, the Swedish edtech company, for its continued work in transforming educational outcomes in Nigeria.”
VP Shettima told the Crown Princess that the aforementioned partnerships are “building blocks in a broader architecture of cooperation—one that positions Sweden as a key partner in Nigeria’s journey towards digital inclusion, educational reform, sustainable agriculture, and clean energy transition.”
Earlier, Crown Princess Victoria outlined Sweden’s vast interest in Nigeria, describing both nations as partners in so many sectors.
“We have been talking about Nigeria and Sweden now for a few days and it’s wonderful to see the opportunities that are here. And I think it’s specifically important during the times that we live right now,” the Crown Princess stated.
She said that it would be wonderful for Sweden to have a physical trade office in Nigeria, stating that it is something that should have been done long ago.
In his remarks, Sweden’s Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, Andreas Carlson lauded the partnership between both countries, saying “We have seen opportunities in Nigeria when it comes to innovation, tech sector and many skills where we can learn from each other, and this will shape a better future for tomorrow for our people.”
He said all is set to declare open Sweden’s trade office tomorrow, even as he noted that both nations are standing on a firm foundation of long-standing bilateral relations spanning 65 years of robust relationship.
“We also see that there is a long-standing relationship in the business sector, a strong partner with Nigeria in the MoU that was signed during your visit to Stockholm. We have opened five innovation hubs in Africa and the largest in Nigeria, in Lagos. So, I see a lot of opportunities when it comes to other sectors; in health, agriculture and others,” he said.
In his remarks, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tugga highlighted earlier discussions he had with the Crown Princess of Sweden, including matters involving trade and investment, agriculture, green energy, solar, green hydrogen, ICT and Business Outsourcing involving issues of employment for skilled workers.
He explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Technical Aid Corp, will partner with countries that are interested in workers from Nigeria in a structured manner to reduce regional migration.
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