Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday pledged Nigeria’s dedication to strengthening ties with Sweden, stressing that each international locations are poised for a partnership “anchored in innovation, powered by folks, and guided by our shared dedication to uplift communities and safe prosperity for generations to return”.
He made the dedication on Monday whereas receiving the Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden at State Home, Abuja.
Princess Victoria was on a three-day official go to to Nigeria as a part of efforts to reinforce diplomatic and financial relations between Sweden and Nigeria.
Shettima described the Crown Princess’s go to to Nigeria because the opening of doorways to deeper institutional relations and better cultural trade between each nations. He stated the go to was not solely a continuation of dialogue but additionally a brand new chapter for each nations.
Based on him, “This second opens the door to deeper institutional ties, stimulates business-to-business collaboration, and fosters better cultural trade.
“We’re notably enthusiastic about alternatives in renewable power, precision agriculture, healthcare innovation, and gender inclusion—areas the place Sweden has a lot to supply, and Nigeria is raring to be taught.”
The vp recalled his high-level engagement in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, in October 2024, when he represented President Bola Tinubu. He identified that the go to marked a turning level within the bilateral relationship between each international locations.
He said, “From the nice and cozy hospitality prolonged by the Swedish authorities to the visionary discussions we had with Your Royal Highness, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, and the captains of Swedish trade, we returned to Nigeria energised by a brand new momentum—one which has since translated into tangible outcomes for each our peoples.
“Our conferences in Sweden final yr weren’t ceremonial; they had been catalytic. They opened doorways to strategic collaborations and renewed our dedication to creating Nigeria a fertile floor for innovation, funding, and sustainable growth.
“One of the vital consequential outcomes of that go to was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and Ericsson to help 5G innovation throughout our nation.
“Past the digital frontier, Swedish enterprises proceed to put money into Nigeria’s human capital and sustainable growth. We applaud SchoolTry, the Swedish edtech firm, for its continued work in remodeling academic outcomes in Nigeria.”
Shettima informed the Crown Princess that the aforementioned partnerships had been “constructing blocks in a broader structure of cooperation—one which positions Sweden as a key accomplice in Nigeria’s journey in the direction of digital inclusion, academic reform, sustainable agriculture, and clear power transition”.
Earlier, Crown Princess Victoria outlined Sweden’s huge curiosity in Nigeria, describing each nations as companions in so many sectors.
“We’ve been speaking about Nigeria and Sweden now for a number of days and it’s great to see the alternatives which might be right here. And I feel it’s particularly necessary in the course of the occasions that we dwell proper now,” the Crown Princess said.
She stated it might be great for Sweden to have a bodily commerce workplace in Nigeria, stating that it’s one thing that ought to have been performed way back.
In his remarks, Sweden’s Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, Andreas Carlson, lauded the partnership between each international locations, saying, “We’ve seen alternatives in Nigeria in relation to innovation, tech sector and plenty of expertise the place we are able to be taught from one another and it will form a greater future for tomorrow for our folks.”
Carlson stated all was set for the opening of Sweden’s commerce workplace in Nigeria tomorrow, stating that each nations are standing on a agency basis of long-standing bilateral relations spanning 65 years of strong relationship.
He said, “We additionally see that there’s a long-standing relationship within the enterprise sector, a powerful accomplice with Nigeria within the MoU that was signed throughout your go to to Stockholm.
“We’ve opened 5 innovation hubs in Africa and the most important in Nigeria, in Lagos. So, I see a variety of alternatives in relation to different sectors; in well being, agriculture and others.”
In his remarks, Minister of International Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar highlighted earlier discussions he had with the Crown Princess of Sweden, together with issues involving commerce and funding, agriculture, inexperienced power, photo voltaic, inexperienced hydrogen, ICT, and Enterprise Outsourcing involving problems with employment for expert staff.
Tuggar defined that the Ministry of International Affairs, by means of the Technical Assist Corps, will accomplice with international locations serious about staff from Nigeria in a structured method to cut back regional migration.
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In the identical vein, the Vice President additionally met with Swedish tech big Ericsson.
Whereas talking, Shettima stated Nigeria would develop commerce ties between the international locations by promptly operationalising the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the nation and the corporate in 2024.
A delegation from the tech big, led by its Senior Vice President and Head of Market Space Europe, Center East and Africa, Ericsson, Patrick Johansson, had been on a courtesy go to to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Shettima stated Ericsson is part of the Nigerian experiment, recalling that the agency laid the inspiration for different tech giants on the time.
Stating that the corporate had stored religion with Nigeria as a accomplice in progress in a shared story of transformation, the vp counseled the tech big for its present investments within the institution of innovation hubs and help for small companies within the nation, which he stated was a consolidation of the partnership with the corporate.
Shettima urged Ericsson and different buyers to leverage the potential of the Nigerian nation, and notably harness the keenness of its youthful inhabitants.
Vice President and Head of Buyer Models, West and South Africa at Ericsson Center East and Africa, Majda Lahlou Kassi, stated Nigeria occupied an necessary place within the firm’s historical past.
Kassi stated Ericsson believed in Nigeria’s potential and was pleased with the prevailing relationship, particularly the chances for development within the native market and entrenchment of a digital tradition among the many citizenry.
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