EU Pledges Continued Partnership With Nigeria, Backs Inclusive Prosperity
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
The European Union has reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s development, identifying private investment, digital connectivity, education and environmental sustainability as key drivers of inclusive prosperity.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, who stated this at the Development Policy Forum (DPF) 2026, tagged Achieving Inclusive Prosperity In Nigeria and organised by Nextier, stresesd that economic growth must create opportunities for ordinary citizens rather than remain concentrated among the elite.
Mignot said trust, social inclusion and confidence in the future are essential to sustainable development, adding that investing in young people, expanding women’s employment and promoting gender equality could accelerate economic growth.
He cautioned that artificial intelligence and other technological advances could not replace the fundamentals of effective governance, sound development planning and environmental protection.
On international partnerships, Mignot said external partners should support Nigeria’s priorities rather than impose development strategies, while promoting technology transfer, investment and access to expertise.
He highlighted the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which seeks to mobilise public and private investment for green, digital and inclusive development.
Among the projects he cited were the Omi-Eko electric ferry initiative in Lagos, designed to improve access to jobs, markets and services for communities around the lagoon, and a proposed 90,000-kilometre fibre-optic network to expand digital connectivity across Nigeria.
Mignot also highlighted EU-backed financing for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly businesses led by women and young people, alongside trade and investment initiatives aimed at strengthening economic ties between Nigeria and Europe.
He said the EU’s next seven-year financial framework for 2028-2034 would provide an opportunity to shape future development priorities with Nigeria, expressing confidence that inclusive prosperity would remain central to their partnership.
He maintained that sustainable development would depend on coordinated domestic policies, reliable international partnerships and investment that translates economic progress into improved living conditions.
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