German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s third visit to Nigeria, accompanied by a high-powered delegation of CEOs and board members from leading German companies in information technology, high-tech, and energy sectors, signals an elevated importance of the West African nation in Germany’s foreign policy and economic outlook.



German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier underlined the growing interest of German businesses in Nigeria during his state visit, as part of a four-day tour of Africa, including stops in South Africa and Lesotho.



“Thanks to your courageous reform policy, I think the investment conditions here in Nigeria will improve in the next year,” Steinmeier told Nigerian President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in the country’s capital Abuja. “There is a growing interest on the German side with German businesses and German companies. It’s not easy; we made similar experiences in Germany many years ago during an economic crisis. You need a lot of courage and perseverance, but at the end this will be to the benefit of your country.”



Germany’s interest in Nigeria isn’t new but is intensifying. Nigeria is already Germany’s second-largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, with a bilateral focus on energy cooperation. Efforts to rehabilitate and expand Nigeria’s electricity production, especially through renewable energy and efficiency improvements, are central to this partnership.



A significant milestone in this relationship is the German-Nigerian Energy Partnership, established in 2008 and expanded in 2021 with the opening of a Hydrogen Office in Abuja. This aligns with Germany’s National Hydrogen Strategy, aimed at exploring clean energy solutions globally.



“The bottlenecks that have been the bane of our businesses in this country have been removed. We are aligning with good governance, opportunity and encouraging businesses to move faster,” said Tinubu. “We plan to strengthen the relationship and build partnership that is fulfilling and rewarding to the two countries.”



Steinmeier’s visit also highlighted cultural ties between the two nations. In December 2022, Germany returned the first of the looted Benin Bronzes, a gesture that revitalized cultural diplomacy. Steinmeier built on this momentum by meeting cultural icons such as Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and Nike Okundaye of the Nike Art Gallery.



The Goethe-Institut, Germany’s cultural institute in Lagos, has served as a bridge for artistic exchange since 1962, supporting the growing ties between German and Nigerian creative industries.



Steinmeier also engaged with regional leaders, including Gambian diplomat Alieu Omar Touray, President of the Economic Community of West African States Commission (ECOWAS), to discuss security, stability, and economic integration across West Africa.



His visit to Lagos provided further evidence of Germany’s interest in Nigeria’s burgeoning tech and creative industries. Steinmeier toured a startup hub and met with civil society leaders.



The German-Nigerian Binational Commission, established in 2011 but last convened in 2021, may play a



crucial role in steering this partnership forward.

Steinmeier and Tinubu at the Presidential Villa; Image supplied

‘Growing Interest Of German Businesses In Nigeria’: Intensifying Relations With The West African Nation

During his campaign, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria emphasized his administration&#8217;s commitment to focusing on &#8220;modern economic drivers such as the digital economy, creative industries, sports, and entertainment sectors&#8221;.



The youth, who make up a significant portion of the population, have welcomed this vision.



Uriel Tomori, a tech and civil rights advocate, expects the new administration to create an enabling environment for the digital and creative industries to thrive. In recent years, the tech sector has faced challenges such as bank account freezes, internet shutdowns, tax disputes, and service bans. Tomori emphasizes the need for the government to &#8220;provide a better pathway for accessing local and global opportunities&#8221;.



Nigerian filmmaker, Joseph Omoniyi, expresses excitement about the new president’s vision for the creative industries. He highlights the potential economic growth and social development that can be achieved by harnessing Nigeria&#8217;s rich cultural heritage.



With the film industry already contributing over $600 million to the GDP annually, Omoniyi hopes that &#8220;the new administration will address challenges such as piracy, funding, distribution networks, infrastructure, and regulatory barriers to enable the production of quality content that can compete globally&#8221;.



Author and digital creator, Immanuel James Ibe-Anyanwu, urges the government to &#8220;inspire interest in scientific innovation alongside the focus on sports and entertainment&#8221;.



He says: &#8220;Young people have the potential to contribute to scientific advancements and solve their own problems if given the opportunity.&#8221; Ibe-Anyanwu calls for a &#8220;refocusing of young people&#8221; and highlights the need to &#8220;build infrastructure with indigenous talent.&#8221;



Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, CEO of Future Africa, who helped to develop and present Tinubu’s digital economy plan to Nigeria’s organized private sector, encouraged the tech ecosystem to rally around and set an agenda for the new government.



The tech sector in Nigeria has been one of the fastest-growing and most innovative sectors, attracting significant funding and contributing to the growth of African startups.

Tag: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

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‘Growing Interest Of German Businesses In Nigeria’: Intensifying Relations With The West African Nation

Nigerians Hopeful For President Tinubu’s Focus On Digital And Creative Economies