Newsworth | Danjuma Amodu | January 16, 2026
A landmark policy workshop held at Transcorp Hotel on 15 January 2026 brought together Nigeria’s foremost policymakers, European diplomats, private-sector leaders and development experts to chart a new course for trade, investment and green industrialisation one that could reshape Nigeria’s economy for decades to come.
Opening the proceedings, Dr Rachel Mandi George, Director of Trade at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), welcomed delegates with a subtle yet powerful reminder.
“The choices we make today will shape not only our economic future but also our environmental health and social equity.”
Her words set the tone for a day of frank discussion, strategic vision and urgent calls to action.
The workshop centred squarely on aligning Nigeria’s industrial strategy with EU standards, leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to build green value chains from solar panels to agro-processing and tapping EU funding streams to finance clean-energy projects.
During the technical session, delegates explored how to:
– Reform Nigeria’s trade and climate policies to meet EU requirements;
– Mobilise blended finance for green industries;
– Streamline customs procedures and boost regional integration under AfCFTA.
A concise policy brief emerged from the deliberations, offering actionable steps to:
– Unlock green investment;
– Enhance export competitiveness;
– Create jobs for Nigeria’s burgeoning youth population.
Co-chairs Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Development (CCCD), and Dr Sébastien Treyer, Executive Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI), underscored the urgency.
“This isn’t just about policy it is about building industries that last, jobs that empower, and trade that respects our planet.”
The event precedes a Nigeria-EU ministerial meeting scheduled for March 2026, focused on agriculture, digital economy and green innovation, signalling a new era of partnership beyond oil.
A New Model of Partnership
Treyer lauded the organisers and challenged the status quo.
“The EU is investing heavily in green manufacturing, but Nigeria’s concern is valid. Too much raw material leaves your shores without value added. Lithium for batteries, minerals for solar panels, the question is, how ready is the EU to invest in factories in Africa, rather than just extract resources?”
He pointed to the Clean Trade and Investment Partnerships negotiated with South Africa as a template.
“The idea is to build shared industrial ecosystems where we invest in factories, manufacturing and innovation because that is a win-win. Good innovation and good manufacturing in partner countries benefit everyone.”
Treyer acknowledged uncertainty around timelines but confirmed that.
“The EU–Nigeria summit is planned for 2026 to define the framework for investment and trade partnerships, including joint ventures between Nigerian and European investors across entire supply chains.”
Fossil Fuels vs Green Future
Professor Okereke confronted Nigeria’s lingering dependence on fossil fuels.
“Climate change is not just an environmental issue, it is about decarbonising the economy and driving green manufacturing. We have policy documents, the Nationally Determined Contribution, the AfCFTA strategy, but they haven’t translated into factories on the ground.”
Speaking further, Okereke reiterated.
“How soon will we see green factories depends on how serious we are. You can not re-engineer an economy with paperwork alone. We need money, expertise and political will. The window is closing… Continuing to rely on oil and gas puts Nigeria at risk as the world goes green.”
Okereke pledged that the workshop would deliver clear, unambiguous, articulate ideas to the government but emphasised that, it’s up to the government to act.”
Breaking Down Silos
Asked about fragmentation among ministries and agencies, Okereke admitted.
“One of the biggest challenges is that many relevant MDAs are not talking to one another. We hope to recommend the creation of a task force to bring these agencies together and drive the agenda forward.”
EU’s Vision: Global Gateway
European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, reinforced the bloc’s commitment.
“The EU is Nigeria’s first trade and investment partner. Our Global Gateway Strategy is about leveraging sustainable investments to progress prosperity and planetary preservation.”
Accordingly, he reiterates that sustainability is not a constraint but an opportunity.
Mignot stressed further.
“We believe value chains built here in Nigeria, rooted in green industry, will deliver a new model of development, greener, more inclusive, and more beneficial to the Nigerian people.”
Looking Ahead
Nigeria is poised to move from raw-material exporter to green-industry hub. The workshop’s outcomes are a policy brief, partnership proposals and a roadmap to 2026 signal intent.
But Professor Okereke cautioned; “The ideas are ready. Now comes the hard part, turning them into reality.”
For Nigeria, the choice is clear – stay stuck in fossil-fuel dependency, or leap into a greener, smarter, stronger future, hand-in-hand with Europe. He added.
Sustaining the Momentum
According to Professor Okereke, Ukama Co-Chair, the Ukama Platform is a collaborative network of think tanks, research institutions and policy actors across Nigeria and Europe is not treating the Abuja workshop as a one-off event. Instead, it’s positioning itself as the engine of sustained, structured dialogue that turns ideas into action.
“Nigeria’s ideas, policies, priorities and innovations need to be heard, understood and acted upon at the highest levels of the European Union, so they’re embedded into joint strategies, funding decisions and trade agreements. That is why Ukama is not a project. It’s a partnership ecosystem.”
Similarly, Treyer added that.
“Sustainability needs continuity. We’re embedding dialogue into institutions, not just events, so that when a minister changes, the conversation doesn’t stop.”
Okereke assured Nigerians that Ukama is not waiting for the next summit. It’s already wiring the wires, so Nigeria and Europe stay talking, working, and building together long after the applause fades.
Why It Matters
Europe controls huge pots of green finance, sets trade standards, and shapes global climate policy. If Nigerian ideas don’t reach Brussels, Nigeria risks being left out of the green industrial revolution or becoming just a raw-material supplier again.
Professor Okereke concludes that.
“Ukama’s mission is to build that bridge permanently. So Nigerian voices aren’t guests at the table… but co-hosts.”
