Making Nigeria a land of opportunity, not just potential, depends on moving beyond complaints to partnerships, innovation, and accountability.
This was the rallying cry during the Nordic Nigeria Connect event, "Forging Partnerships for Sustainable Impact", during the first panel session discussions, themed "Nigeria and the Nordics: Forging Partnerships for Innovation, where leaders from the public sector in Nigeria and the Nordic region challenged each other to spark real transformation in technology, food systems, finance, and policy.
Nigeria's Sustainable Growth: From Promise to Progress
Nigeria's future as a driver of sustainable growth for Africa and the world was the focus of an intense panel session featuring Nigerian and Nordic leaders. At the Nordic Nigeria Connect event - Forging Partnerships for Sustainable Impact.
Experts in governance, energy, food systems, technology, and human capital agreed: Africa must channel its abundant potential into impact, transforming big ideas into jobs, resilience, and value for its people.
Panelists included Dr. Bosun Tijani, Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Lino Gandlose Hansen, State Secretary for Trade & Investment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Jarno Syrjala, Deputy Minister for International Trade if Finland, and others was moderated by Adaora Onyechere Sydney-Jack.
They urged leaders and businesses to "move from complaints to opportunity language," seeking ways to turn Nigeria's large young population, resources, and reforms into measurable prosperity.
Citing Singapore's rise, they argued for brave economic choices, transparent governance, and building trust and transparency between government, business, and society. A Nordic representative added, "Collaboration, long-term thinking, and high public trust have made the Nordic countries thrive; similar discipline must shape Africa's path."
Panellists highlighted major investments in logistics, skills, digital transformation, and health, stressing the need for a homegrown strategy and responsibility.
As Lagos builds food security, infrastructure, and tech startups, and as Nordic partners bring clean energy and export lessons, the session closed with a call: "We can, and must, make Nigeria and Africa lands of realised promise, not perpetual potential."
From "Potential" to "Promise" – The New Narrative For Nigeria
The panel opened with a verdict: Nigeria's destiny is global relevance, not just resource abundance.
"We must move our national label from a land of potentials to a land of real promise and opportunity for the world," declared a panellist.
How Partnerships, Skills, And Investment Enable Real Progress
Discussions dissected the practical steps:
- Technology must be scalable, affordable, and serve people's real needs.
- Logistics and food value chains need modern investment to cut waste and reduce costs.
- Skills development is paramount—the education system is now focusing on innovation, tech, and medical science.
- Clean energy and data-driven public health infrastructure must underpin the future.
| Priority Area | Key Investment | Stakeholder Engagement |
| Tech Infrastructure | 90,000km fibre, affordable access | Government, telecoms, SMEs |
| Food & Logistics | Cold storage, transport, LNG | State, private, trade groups |
| Education & Health | Universities, e-health, social programs | Policy, universities, donors |
| Clean Energy | Solar rollout, port electrification | Government, Nordic partners |
Aligning Interests For True Homegrown and Global Prosperity
Panellists cited the symbiotic potential of agriculture, tech, energy, and trade, calling for "partnerships where everyone benefits, not just foreign investors or city dwellers."
The Nordic countries pointed to their own development:
"Our prosperity rests on long-term partnerships, gender equity, trust, and environmental responsibility. These values adapted to Nigeria's size and diversity can unlock mutual wins."
| Area | Nigerian Strength | Nordic Lesson | Mutual Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Systems | Large market, arable land | Logistics expertise | Export, food security |
| Human Capital | Youthful population | Skills focus | Joint innovation hubs |
| Tech/Green Energy | Leapfrog potential | Clean investment | Decarbonized growth |
Delivering Results – From Conversation To Concrete Collaboration
The future, panellists agreed, belongs to nations that can earn trust, discipline markets, and translate plans into proof. Recommendations included:
- Capacity building for ministries and private sector leaders
- Practical cross-border pilots in clean energy, digital health, and e-government
- Open, transparent reporting on outcomes
- Resilient, community-led projects for inclusive growth
| Step | Who Leads | Expected Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Director Up-skilling | Institutes, academia | Informed decisions |
| Pilot Collaborations | Public/private/Nordic | Replicable solutions |
| Impact Reporting | Government, media | Public trust, feedback |
Infographic: Nigeria's Sustainable Development Network
| System Lever | Immediate Goal | 2030 Vision |
|---|---|---|
| Skills Partnerships | 1M upskilled in 5 years | Export-ready talent |
| Food Chain Logistics | 40% waste reduction | Price/food security |
| Clean Energy | 22,000 new solar lights | Net-zero transit |
| Trust & Data | e-Government expansion | Transparent state |
Path Forward: Building Smart, Shared Growth
Nigeria's approach to sustainable development is defined by partnerships, local empowerment, and adaptive strategies for the future. These pillars offer insights for wider progress.
The challenge remains to translate relationships and positive intentions into real outcomes. With focused action, Nigeria can secure growth that is intelligent, inclusive, and benefits everyone, setting an example for shared prosperity across the continent.
