Abuja, Nigeria – There was a real sense of forward movement at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday. It wasn’t just the standard diplomatic handshakes when Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, sat down with Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. This meeting felt like it was about building something concrete.
The Crown Princess is in Nigeria for a few days, and her visit is clearly aimed at knitting the two countries closer together, especially when it comes to business and working together on bigger issues. The headline news from their meeting? Sweden is officially cutting the ribbon on a dedicated trade office right here in Nigeria tomorrow, Tuesday.
That move speaks volumes. Andreas Carlson, Sweden’s Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, who came along with the Princess, laid it out pretty clearly. He said Sweden sees genuine potential in Nigeria, particularly pointing to the country’s fast-growing tech and innovation sector. But he also mentioned other areas, like health and farming, suggesting there’s a lot both countries can gain from sharing knowledge. “This will shape a better future for tomorrow for our people,” he said, hinting at the real-world goals behind the diplomacy.
Carlson also touched on the history, reminding everyone that Nigeria and Sweden aren’t strangers – they’ve had ties for 65 years. He mentioned things are already moving, referencing a visit by VP Shettima to Stockholm last year that resulted in a formal agreement (an MoU). He even noted Sweden’s existing tech presence, saying, “We have opened five innovation hubs in Africa, with the largest one in Nigeria, in Lagos.”
Crown Princess Victoria herself seemed genuinely enthusiastic, calling Nigeria and Sweden solid “partners” on many fronts. She remarked how timely this strengthening of ties is, given everything going on in the world, and called the new trade office a “wonderful development.”
Vice President Shettima warmly welcomed the Swedish delegation, assuring them Nigeria would be a “dependable ally.” He talked about building a partnership focused on “innovation” and “powered by people,” aiming for real community benefits.
For Shettima, this visit and the new trade office aren’t just photo opportunities. He sees them paving the way for closer government connections, encouraging businesses to collaborate directly, and promoting more cultural understanding. He specifically flagged areas like renewable energy, smart farming (“precision agriculture”), healthcare advances, and promoting women’s equality as spots where Nigeria is keen to learn from Sweden’s experience.
The VP looked back at his own trip to Sweden last October, calling it a “turning point.” He brought up the practical results already seen, like the deal with Ericsson to help push 5G technology across Nigeria. He also gave a nod to Swedish companies already active here, mentioning the education tech company SchoolTry and its work improving schools.