The European Union (EU) delegation to Nigeria announced on Friday that it is advancing a new chapter in its collaboration with Nigeria, making the country’s researchers eligible to participate in Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen Nigeria’s research and innovation ecosystem, with a focus on digital transformation, climate resilience, and sustainable growth.
What is Horizon Europe?
Horizon Europe is the European Union’s key funding programme for research and innovation, boasting a substantial budget of €93.5 billion for the 2021-2027 period. The programme aims to strengthen Europe’s scientific and technological foundations, enhance its innovation capacity, and drive economic growth while addressing pressing global challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, and health.
The programme is structured around three main pillars: Excellent Science; Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness; and Innovative Europe. It supports frontier research projects, collaborative research infrastructure, and mission-oriented research and innovation. It also supports researcher mobility and training through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.
Horizon Europe actively encourages international collaboration, allowing researchers and organisations from countries outside the EU to participate. For example, the Republic of Korea has joined as the first Asian nation to be associated with the initiative, and Switzerland is nearing completion of its formal association.
A New Partnership with Nigeria
The announcement was made at the University of Lagos’ 18th Annual Research Conference, where EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, underscored the role of research in driving inclusive and transformative progress.
“Science is most efficient when it is universal, not when it bumps into borders,” Mignot said. “The European Union and its Member States are investing in research that advances the same green, digital, and inclusive transition we are pursuing in Europe, and we are proud to work with Nigeria to achieve this.”
Mignot noted that the EU’s partnership with Nigeria empowers scientists, innovators, and young researchers to turn knowledge into impact across critical sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), renewable energy, and health.
“Horizon Europe is open to Nigerian researchers because the pursuit of knowledge belongs to all humankind,” Mignot said. “When science connects people, it builds a stronger, fairer and more sustainable world.”
Proposed Science and Technology Agreement
The Ambassador also announced that the European Commission has proposed opening negotiations with Nigeria on a Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Agreement. This proposed accord will create new pathways for joint research projects, academic exchange, and investment in technology infrastructure.
“This agreement will help bring our researchers, innovators, and universities even closer together,” Mignot added. “It will strengthen Nigeria’s role in the global innovation landscape and open more opportunities for young researchers and entrepreneurs.”
Local Impact and Commendation
Professor Folasade Ogunsola, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, commended the EU for its support, describing the collaboration as a milestone in Nigeria’s drive to strengthen its research capacity and harness innovation for development.
“Africa must embrace innovation that responds to our realities,” Ogunsola said. “Partnerships like this enable us to translate research into practical solutions, from sustainable energy to health and AI, that improve lives and empower communities.”
She added that the university is investing in a Human-Centred AI Research Hub focused on ethical and inclusive innovation. “AI offers Africa not just a chance to catch up but to lead in shaping the future,” she said.
Salami Mayowa Michael, a PhD candidate in Estate Management at the University of Lagos, also shared his perspective on the collaboration’s potential.
“AI is changing everything about how we learn and research,” he said. “We can now access data, collaborate across continents, and even conduct property evaluations with drones. The EU’s support will give us the opportunity to leverage these tools more effectively and transform the way we teach, learn, and innovate.”
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