The 9th European Union-Nigeria Business Forum (EUNBF) is set to bring together business leaders, policymakers, and institutional stakeholders from Nigeria and Europe in Abuja for the first time. This event, organized by the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, in collaboration with EU member states and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, aims to explore and identify investment opportunities within specific value chains.
The forum’s objectives include fostering engagement by facilitating interaction among businesses, policymakers, and stakeholders from both regions to promote economic cooperation and stimulate sustainable growth. It also aims to enhance trade, investment, and partnerships between the EU and Nigeria through networking, discussions, and policy shaping. Additionally, the forum will support the EU Global Gateway Strategy by complementing private sector investments with EU-funded projects, focusing on social, economic, and environmental sustainability in Nigeria, and harnessing local talent, particularly among youth and women.
Keynote speakers at the event will include Samuela Isopi, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, who will emphasize the forum’s role in fostering transparent and inclusive engagement with Nigeria’s new administration to strengthen EU-Nigeria partnerships. Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, will express support for the EU’s efforts to promote economic cooperation and sustainable growth.
The forum will focus on several key areas: investments in the digital sector to boost economic resilience, partnerships in the health sector to enhance healthcare delivery and infrastructure, and transitioning from agriculture to agribusiness to improve food security and economic sustainability.
The event will be conducted in a hybrid format, allowing both in-person and virtual participation, and is expected to attract at least 400 in-person attendees, along with additional virtual participants. Panel discussions will cover topics such as attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), digitalization, healthy economies, and the transition from agriculture to agribusiness.
The EUNBF seeks to bring certainty, stability, and sustainability to bilateral trade and investment relations between the EU and Nigeria. It offers a platform for transparent dialogue and collaboration, paving the way for a prosperous future for both parties. This forum is part of a broader initiative to promote economic, social, and environmental resilience in Nigeria, aligning with the EU’s commitment to sustainable development and the utilization of local talent.
