Germany and Nigeria are exploring opportunities to strengthen economic cooperation, investment, education and skills development, as a delegation of German parliamentarians is in Nigeria to assess development priorities and identify areas for closer collaboration.

The delegation, led by Dr Wolfgang Stefinger, a member of the German Bundestag and head of the visiting team, is in Nigeria to deepen dialogue on shared development priorities and assess the impact of German-Nigerian development cooperation.
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Speaking at a reception organised for the delegation, German Consul General Daniel Krull said the visit provided an opportunity to strengthen relations between both countries and explore areas for future cooperation.
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Krull noted that Germany’s development cooperation with Nigeria amounted to more than €700 million, underscoring the scale of the partnership between the two countries.
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He said the delegation’s engagements would help generate ideas, observations and recommendations to guide future cooperation, while providing members with firsthand knowledge of Nigeria’s development priorities.
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The visit is expected to facilitate discussions with Nigerian government representatives, members of the National Assembly and the Economic Community of West African States on the country’s development needs and prospects for collaboration.
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The delegation is also scheduled to meet German business representatives and national and international development finance institutions to discuss Nigeria’s economic outlook and investment opportunities.
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Speaking at the reception, Stefinger described Nigeria as a key global partner for Germany and an important country for stability and democracy in West Africa.
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He said Nigeria was one of Germany’s most important trading partners in sub-Saharan Africa, adding that cooperation between both countries extended beyond trade to areas such as hydrogen, renewable energy, vocational training, rural development and healthcare.
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Stefinger said international cooperation was essential to addressing global challenges, including climate change and security concerns.
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He added that partnerships between countries should be viewed as investments in shared security, prosperity and peace, stressing that genuine friendship was built on cultural respect and dialogue rather than trade figures alone.
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As part of the programme, the delegation is expected to visit a Siemens Energy site in Abeokuta, Ogun State, for discussions on energy infrastructure and skills development programmes.
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Other areas of engagement include vocational training, digital opportunities, women’s entrepreneurship, employment and skilled migration.
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The delegation is also exploring investment opportunities through meetings with businesses, banks, technology companies and young entrepreneurs, with the aim of strengthening commercial links and creating opportunities for young professionals in both countries.
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On academic cooperation, Lecturer at the University of Lagos and representative of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Gerald Heusing, said the organisation facilitated international relations between German universities and institutions in other countries.
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Heusing explained that DAAD received funding from the German government, with the German Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development among its key sponsors.
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He said the organisation provided scholarships and supported partnerships between universities, adding that it awarded nearly 3,000 scholarships to Nigerians last year and supported about a dozen partnerships with Nigerian universities.
‎ Heusing added that DAAD alumni associations provided consultations and advice to students seeking information about educational opportunities.