By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Nigeria and Sweden are working to deepen their bilateral relations, focusing on areas such as trade, sustainable development, gender equality, and cultural exchange.
This commitment was highlighted during a recent meeting between Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, and Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria at the State House in Abuja. Princess Victoria was in Nigeria for a three-day visit aimed at improving diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
Vice President Shettima expressed Nigeria’s unwavering support for Sweden, stating, “We will continue to be a dependable ally of Sweden in all seasons.”
He emphasized that the partnership would be centered on “innovation, powered by people,” and shared goals of uplifting communities to secure prosperity for future generations. Shettima noted that the Crown Princess’s visit marks the opening of doors to stronger institutional ties and more opportunities for cultural exchange.
He added, “This moment opens the door to deeper institutional ties, stimulates business-to-business collaboration, and fosters greater cultural exchange.”
Shettima also highlighted the specific areas of collaboration, including renewable energy, precision agriculture, healthcare innovation, and gender inclusion. These are sectors where Sweden has significant expertise, and Nigeria is eager to learn from them.
He referred to his earlier engagement in Sweden in October 2024, noting that discussions with Swedish leaders had “opened doors to strategic collaborations” and created tangible outcomes, including the signing of an MoU with Swedish telecom giant Ericsson to enhance 5G technology in Nigeria.
Crown Princess Victoria underscored Sweden’s growing interest in Nigeria, describing both nations as partners in various sectors. She remarked, “We have been talking about Nigeria and Sweden now for a few days, and it’s wonderful to see the opportunities that are here.”
She also suggested that Sweden establish a physical trade office in Nigeria, emphasizing, “It would be wonderful for Sweden to have a physical trade office in Nigeria; this should have been done long ago.”
Sweden’s Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, Andreas Carlson, praised the partnership, stating, “We have seen opportunities in Nigeria in innovation, the tech sector, and many skills where we can learn from each other.”
Carlson also revealed plans to open Sweden’s trade office in Nigeria, marking a significant step in strengthening the relationship. He pointed out that Swedish enterprises have already invested in innovation hubs across Africa, with the largest one based in Lagos.
In a separate development, Shettima met with a delegation from Ericsson, led by Senior Vice President Patrick Johansson. During the meeting, Shettima reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the Ericsson partnership, stressing that the tech company has played a key role in Nigeria’s digital transformation.
He commended Ericsson for its investments in innovation hubs and its support for small businesses, urging the company to leverage Nigeria’s young, tech-savvy population.
“We are a large nation with a tech-savvy population,” he said, encouraging Ericsson to harness the country’s potential for growth.
Johansson echoed Shettima’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the relationship through grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship.
Ericsson’s Vice President for Customer Units, Majda Lahlou Kassi, highlighted Nigeria’s significant role in the company’s history, stating, “Nigeria occupies an important place in Ericsson’s history,” and expressed pride in their ongoing collaboration, particularly in advancing digital culture in the country.
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