Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations with Sweden, emphasizing a partnership rooted in innovation, human capital, and shared prosperity.
Receiving Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden at the State House in Abuja, Shettima described her visit as a significant milestone—one that opens a new chapter in Nigeria-Sweden relations and sets the stage for expanded institutional cooperation and cultural exchange.
“This partnership is anchored in innovation, powered by people, and guided by our shared determination to uplift communities and secure prosperity for generations to come,” Shettima said.
Princess Victoria is in Nigeria on a three-day official visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic cooperation.
Highlighting priority areas, Shettima noted, “We are particularly excited about opportunities in renewable energy, precision agriculture, healthcare innovation, and gender inclusion—sectors where Sweden excels and Nigeria is eager to collaborate.”
Recalling his October 2024 visit to Stockholm—where he represented President Bola Tinubu—the Vice President said that engagement marked a turning point, leading to concrete outcomes, including a Memorandum of Understanding with Swedish tech giant Ericsson to support Nigeria’s 5G rollout.
“Our meetings in Sweden were not ceremonial; they were catalytic. They unlocked strategic collaborations and reaffirmed Nigeria’s position as a fertile ground for innovation, investment, and sustainable development,” Shettima said.
He praised the efforts of Swedish firms like SchoolTry for their contributions to Nigeria’s education sector, and commended Ericsson for its ongoing investments, including innovation hubs and SME support.
“These are not isolated projects,” he added. “They are building blocks in a broader architecture of cooperation—one that positions Sweden as a key partner in our journey toward digital inclusion, educational reform, sustainable agriculture, and clean energy.”
Crown Princess Victoria, in her remarks, described the visit as a timely and productive step forward.
“We’ve spent the past few days discussing Sweden-Nigeria relations, and it’s clear there’s enormous potential. It would be wonderful to establish a permanent Swedish trade office here—something long overdue,” she said.
Sweden’s Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, Andreas Carlson, echoed the sentiment, stating that the new trade office would officially open Tuesday. “Our relationship spans over 65 years, and we’re seeing fresh opportunities in tech, innovation, and skills development,” he said.
Carlson also noted that Sweden has launched five innovation hubs across Africa, with the largest located in Lagos.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, cited earlier discussions with the Crown Princess, touching on trade, green energy, ICT, agriculture, and skilled workforce mobility. He emphasized that Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps will support structured partnerships to manage skilled migration in a coordinated way.
In a separate engagement, Vice President Shettima received a delegation from Ericsson led by Patrick Johansson, the company’s Senior Vice President and Head of Market Area Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Shettima expressed Nigeria’s readiness to operationalize the 2024 MoU signed with Ericsson, praising the firm’s longstanding contributions to Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.
“Ericsson laid the foundation for the digital evolution in this country. Your continued investment in innovation hubs and support for small businesses is testament to a shared story of transformation,” he said.
Ericsson’s Vice President for West and South Africa, Majda Lahlou Kassi, underscored Nigeria’s strategic importance, affirming the company’s belief in Nigeria’s future and its vibrant digital landscape.
