Nigeria and EU Launch Talks on Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement

Lagos — The European Union (EU), represented by the European Commission, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria have officially opened negotiations for a bilateral Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement. The initiative aims to strengthen research and innovation partnerships, following the outcomes of the 2023 EU-Nigeria Strategic Dialogue and the 2024 EU-Nigeria Summit.

The proposed agreement will provide a formal framework to review past cooperation, draw lessons, and identify future joint actions. It aligns with priority areas of bilateral collaboration and the African Union (AU)-EU Innovation Agenda (2023–2033), a 10-year plan to enhance research and innovation across the continent.

Negotiations coincide with the second EU-Nigeria Science and Innovation Day, held on 24 February 2026 in Lagos. The event brought together researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to highlight the achievements and potential of EU-Nigeria scientific collaboration.

Growing Partnership in Research and Innovation

EU-Nigeria cooperation in science, technology, and innovation has steadily increased over recent years under the Joint EU-Nigeria Roadmap, established during the 7th EU-Nigeria Ministerial Meeting in 2020. Notable achievements include Nigeria’s growing participation in the Horizon Europe programme and the Global Health European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP3).

To date, 55 projects involving Nigerian institutions have received Horizon Europe grants, mostly in health, food, agriculture, and environmental research, with a total budget of approximately €20 million supporting 65 Nigerian participations. Nigeria is also engaged in 12 EDCTP3 projects, worth roughly €75 million, with 15 Nigeria-based organisations benefiting from around €9 million in funding.

Global and Continental Context

The EU maintains bilateral Science and Technology agreements with 20 countries worldwide, including five in Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, and Tunisia. These agreements are designed to promote shared priorities and expand cooperation in research and innovation.

The Nigeria-EU negotiations mark a significant step in further deepening scientific ties and exploring new opportunities for innovation and knowledge exchange.