Nigeria and Sweden yesterday resolved to deepen bilateral relations through trade, sustainable development, gender equality, and cultural exchange.
To this effect, Vice President Kashim Shettima said Nigeria will continue to be a dependable ally of Sweden in all seasons, noting 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 the outcome of a meeting between Shettima and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Victoria, is on a three-day official visit to Nigeria as part of the bid to enhance diplomatic and economic relations between Sweden and Nigeria.
Describing the Crown Princess’ visit to Nigeria as opening doors to deeper institutional relations and greater cultural exchange between both nations, Shettima noted that the visit is not only a continuation of dialogue but also a new chapter for both nations. The Vice President recalled his high-level engagement in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, in October last year when he represented President Bola Tinubu, pointing out that the visit marked a turning point in the bilateral relationship between both countries.
The Crown Princess said: “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.
In another development, Vice President Shettima on Monday pledged Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening ties with Swedish tech giant, Ericsson, by promptly operationalising the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the country and the company in 2024. The Vice President spoke when he received a delegation from the tech giant led by its Senior Vice President and Head of Market Area, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mr Patrick Johansson, on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Senator Shettima said Ericsson is a part of the Nigerian experiment, recalling that the firm laid the foundation for other tech giants at the time.
Noting that the company has kept faith with the nation as a partner in progress and a collaborator in her shared story of transformation, the Vice President commended the tech giant for its current investments in the establishment of innovation hubs and support for small businesses in the country, which he said is a consolidation of the partnership with the company.
He urged Ericsson and other investors to leverage the potential of the Nigerian nation, particularly harnessing the enthusiasm of its youthful population.“We cherish our relationship with Sweden and your company and I must urge you to harness our manifest destiny. We are a large nation with a tech-savvy population.
We are making efforts across different fields. A good number of the Unicorns that we have in Africa are Nigerian-based. The future is Nigeria,” Vice President Shettima noted. On his part, the Senior Vice President and Head of Market Area, Europe, Middle East and Africa of the company, Mr Patrick Johansson, emphasized the need to strengthen the relationship between Nigeria and Ericsson through the promotion of grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship, among other projects of Ericsson. In the same vein, the company’s Vice President and Head of Customer Units, West and South Africa at Ericsson Middle East & Africa, Majda Lahlou Kassi, said Nigeria occupied an important place in the company’s history.
He said Ericsson believes in Nigeria’s potential and is proud of the existing relationship, especially the possibilities for growth in the local market and entrenchment of a digital culture among the citizenry. Also present at the meeting held at the Presidential Villa, were Ericsson’s Director of Public Affairs, Government and Industry Relations and the company’s Senior Solutions Architect, Mr Efosa Aigbe.