Be Where Europe and Nigeria Do

Business, Says EU Envoy, Mignot

The European Union and the Federal Government of Nigeria will convene the 10th Nigeria–EU Business Forum on June 25, 2026 in Lagos, bringing together policymakers, investors, development finance institutions, and business leaders from Nigeria and Europe. Ahead of the forum, the Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, speaks with THISDAY on investment, economic cooperation, private sector participation, and why the Forum matters for Nigeria’s long-term economic growth

Why does the Nigeria–EU Business Forum matter at this moment?

The global economy is changing rapidly, and countries are increasingly looking for stronger partnerships capable of supporting investment, growth, and long-term economic stability.

Nigeria remains one of Africa’s most important economies with strong potential across energy, infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, technology, and services.

The EU is Nigeria’s first trade and investment partner. Nigeria historically maintains a strong trade surplus with the EU, exporting significantly more (mostly fuels, cocoa, and agricultural products) than it imports. The EU also acts as Nigeria’s biggest foreign investor, with over €38 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) stock in the country.

For the European Union, the Forum creates an opportunity to deepen engagement with the government, investors, businesses, and financial institutions for a long-term economic cooperation.

It is also an opportunity to move discussions beyond general interest towards practical partnerships and investment opportunities. This is where Europe meets Nigeria at scale.

What is the European Union hoping to achieve through this year’s Forum?

The objective is straightforward. We want to strengthen cooperation between Nigeria and Europe through economic engagement between our private sectors.

The forum brings together policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, regulators, and business leaders in one platform focused on opportunity, partnership, and growth.

Businesses want access to markets and investment opportunities. Governments want investment capable of supporting jobs, infrastructure, and economic expansion. Investors want confidence and long-term potential.

The forum creates a space where those conversations can happen directly and constructively. This is where investment conversations become commitments.

What sectors do you believe offer the strongest opportunities for Nigeria and Europe?

Energy remains one of the most important. Reliable energy supports industrialisation, productivity, healthcare, education, manufacturing, and economic growth. Nigeria’s renewable energy sector, particularly off-grid and distributed energy solutions, continues to attract strong interest from investors and development partners. The EU has supported the Nigerian renewable energy sector since 2008, significantly contributing to the emergence of this nascent market.

Agriculture and agribusiness also present major opportunities because of their importance to food systems, processing, exports, and employment. Increasingly, the EU and Nigeria view this sector as one with significant economic diversification potential and growth of businesses.

Nigeria’s digital economy is another major area of opportunity. The country has a growing technology ecosystem driven by innovation, entrepreneurship, fintech, and digital services. Our digital partnership with Nigeria, ranges through support to infrastructure (BRIDGE/90Kkm of fibre-optic cable rollout across the country) and digital governance, to digital businesses and skills for youth.

We are also seeing increasing opportunities across transport infrastructure (for instance the Omi Eko lagune waterways project in Lagos), logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, and the creative economy.

Why is there such strong emphasis on private sector participation at the Forum?

Because sustainable economic growth is driven by enterprise, investment, productivity, and innovation. Governments create enabling environments, but businesses create industries, technologies, jobs, and scalable economic activity.

One of the realities of today’s development cooperation is that no international donor funding is enough to meet the Sustainable Development Goals on schedule. Their achievement is also limited by the fiscal space of our partner countries. Bringing in the private sector into this equation is the only way to reach our common objectives.

The Nigeria–EU Business Forum is designed to bring together the people capable of shaping investment outcomes, including governments, investors, development finance institutions, entrepreneurs, and business leaders.

Most importantly, the forum focuses on practical engagement and long-term partnerships.

 How important is Nigeria to Europe’s long-term economic engagement in Africa?

Nigeria is extremely important. The country is one of Africa’s largest economies and one of the continent’s most influential markets. It also has a young population, a growing entrepreneurial culture, and strong potential across multiple sectors.

European companies have maintained a long-standing presence in Nigeria because they recognise both the scale of opportunity and the long-term value of the market.

At the same time, Nigeria continues to play an important role in regional trade, investment, innovation, and economic activity across West Africa, a region, geographically and historically very close to Europ.

For the European Union, Nigeria remains an important partner for long-term economic cooperation and investment.

How does the forum connect with the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy?

Global Gateway reflects the European Union’s investment approach to infrastructure, clean energy, transport, digital connectivity, healthcare, education for inclusive and sustainable growth.

The strategy focuses on quality investment, trusted partnerships, and long-term economic resilience.

In Nigeria, this already includes support across renewable energy, digital infrastructure, healthcare, education, and connectivity.

The forum provides an opportunity to connect businesses, investors, and institutions with some of those broader priorities while encouraging practical economic partnerships.

What message would you like Nigerian businesses and entrepreneurs to take away from this year’s forum?

Nigeria has strong economic potential, and there are significant opportunities for businesses prepared to think long term.

Nigerian entrepreneurs continue to demonstrate innovation, resilience, ambition, and creativity across sectors ranging from technology and agriculture to manufacturing and services.

The European Union remains committed to partnerships that support investment, growth, enterprise, and economic opportunity.

The forum is therefore not simply an event. It is a platform for engagement, collaboration, and business development. This is where partnerships are formed, not discussed.

What should participants expect during the forum?

Participants should expect serious conversations focused on investment, competitiveness, infrastructure, growth, and business opportunities.

The forum will bring together senior government officials, investors, financial institutions, entrepreneurs, private sector leaders, and international partners for discussions centred on practical outcomes.

But it will not be all talk. There will also be opportunities for business-to-business engagement, networking, investment discussions, and direct interaction with institutions shaping economic cooperation between Nigeria and Europe.

Ultimately, this is a platform defined by European Union and Nigeria partnership.

Finally, why should stakeholders prioritise attending the forum?

Because economic growth depends increasingly on partnerships, confidence, and direct engagement between institutions and businesses.

The global economy is evolving rapidly. Markets are changing. Technology is transforming industries. Investment is a tool for geopolitics.

In that environment, trusted partnerships and platforms capable of bringing together governments, investors, businesses, and development finance institutions become increasingly valuable.

Ultimately, growth is driven by investment, commitment, and relationships built over time.