・She says her visit will open the door to better institutional relationships and promote greater cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Ensuring Nigeria’s commitment to a stronger relationship with tech giant Erixon
Nigeria and Sweden have declared their resolve to deepen bilateral relations through trade, sustainable development, gender equality and cultural exchange.
To that end, Vice President Kasim Shettima said Nigeria will remain Sweden’s trustworthy ally in all seasons, emphasizing that both countries are “standing in innovation, led by our shared resolve to drive people, nurture communities and ensure prosperity for generations.”
The commitment was the high point of Monday’s meeting between Shettima of the state capitol in Abuja and Princess Victoria, Swedish Crown Prince.
Her Royal Highness, Princess Victoria, officially visited Nigeria for three days as part of her efforts to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between Sweden and Nigeria.
Shettima described the visit of the Nigerian Crown Prince as opening the door to deeper institutional relations and greater cultural exchange between the two countries. He said the visit was not only a continuation of the dialogue, but also a new chapter in both countries.
According to him, “This moment opens the door to deeper institutional relationships, stimulates collaboration between companies and encourages greater cultural exchange.
“We are particularly excited about opportunities for renewable energy, precision agriculture, healthcare innovation and gender inclusion.
The Vice President recalled his high level of involvement in Stockholm, the Swedish capital, when he represented President Bora Tinub in October 2024. He noted that the visit marked a turning point in bilateral relations between the two countries.
He said, “From the warm hospitality expanded by the Swedish government to the foresightful debate with your Royal Highness, Prime Minister Wolf Christerson and the captain of the Swedish industry, we have returned to Nigeria, where new momentum has been energised.
“Our meeting in Sweden last year was not ritual. They were catalytic. They opened the door to strategic collaboration and updated our commitment to making Nigeria a fertile basis for innovation, investment and sustainable development.
“One of the most consequential results of that visit was that the signing of a memorandum between Nigeria and Erikson would support 5G innovation across our country.
“Beyond the digital frontiers, Swedish companies continue to invest in Nigeria’s human capital and sustainable development. Schooltry, a Swedish edtech company, praises the ongoing work in transforming Nigeria’s educational outcomes.”
Shettima said the aforementioned partnership is “a building block in the architecture of broader collaboration, and Sweden is setting up Sweden as a key partner in digital inclusion, education reform, sustainable agriculture and the transition to clean energy.”
Previously, Crown Prince Victoria outlined Sweden’s enormous interest in Nigeria, describing both countries as partners in so many sectors.
“We’ve been talking about Nigeria and Sweden for a few days now. It’s great to see the opportunity here, and I think it’s especially important in the time we live in,” the princess said.
She said it was great for Sweden to have a physical trade bureau in Nigeria, and that it should have been done long ago.
In his remarks, Andreas Carlson, Minister of Infrastructure and Housing in Swedish, praised the partnership between the two countries, saying, “In Nigeria, this can shape a better future for our people in terms of the innovation, the technology sector and the many skills we can learn from each other.”
Carlson said everything is set up to open a Swedish trade office in Nigeria tomorrow, with the two countries standing at a solid foundation for years of bilateral relations that spanned the robust 65 years.
He also found that the business sector, a strong partner of MOU with Nigeria, signed during his visit to Stockholm, has a long-standing relationship.
“We have opened five innovation hubs in Africa and Lagos, the largest in Nigeria. So, when it comes to other sectors, we see a lot of opportunities in health, agriculture and more.”
In his remarks, Foreign Minister Ambassador Yusuf Taggar highlighted previous discussions with the Swedish Crown Prince, including issues that include trade and investment, agriculture, green energy, solar, green hydrogen, ICT and business outsourcing with employment issues for skilled workers.
Tuggar explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will partner with countries that are interested in Nigerian workers in a structured manner to reduce migration in the region through its Technical Assistance Corps.
In related developments, the Vice President pledged Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with Swedish technology giant Eriksson by sweepingly operating the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the country and the company in 2024.
Shettima said this when he received a delegation from a tech giant led by senior vice president and prime minister of Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Patrick Johansson, during his courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He said Ericsson was part of the Nigerian experiment and recalls that the company laid the foundations for other tech giants at once.
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The company said it maintained its trust with Nigeria as an ongoing partner in the shared story of change, and the Vice President praised the tech giant for its current investment in establishing an innovation hub and supporting the country’s small and medium-sized enterprises.
Shettima urged Erikson and other investors to harness the potential of the Nigerian nation and especially the enthusiasm of a youthful population.
He said, “We value Sweden’s relationship with your company, so we must encourage you to take advantage of the fate of our manifesto.
“We are a large country with a tech-savvy population. We strive in different fields. A significant number of unicorns in Africa are based in Nigeria. The future is Nigeria.”
Johansson highlighted the need to strengthen Nigeria-Erikson’s relationship through grassroots innovation and promotion of entrepreneurship, among other Erikson projects.
Majda Larrow Kassi, Customer Director and Customer Manager for the Middle East and West and South Africa, Erikson, Middle East and Africa, said Nigeria had a significant place in the company’s history.
Cassie said Erikson believes in Nigeria’s potential and is proud of its existing relationships, particularly the potential for growth in the local market and the establishment of digital culture among citizens.
