By Adaku Onyenucheya

The Crown Princess of Sweden has reaffirmed the longstanding partnership between Sweden and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) aimed at supporting Nigeria’s green transition, fostering a blue economy, and advancing innovation, inclusive growth as well as addressing climate challenges.

This was disclosed when the Crown Princess, Sweden’s Minister for Infrastructure, Mr. Andreas Carlsson, and a delegation of Swedish business leaders and financial institutions visited Tomori Island, a mangrove-rich community affected by climate change, and the Timbuktoo fintech hub, a flagship initiative of the UNDP in Lagos.

During her tour of Lagos, the crown princess highlighted the ongoing collaboration between Sweden and Nigeria aimed at developing key sectors such as trade, blue economy, innovation, climate action, and the green transition to drive inclusive growth.

A defining moment of the visit was a session hosted by the UNDP, which highlighted the importance of joint efforts to drive climate action, sustainable trade, accelerate green innovation, and harness the immense potential of Nigeria’s blue economy.

The princess, who also serves as a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, noted that Nigeria’s coastal and marine ecosystems hold immense promise for sustainable economic transformation, particularly in sectors such as fisheries, maritime trade, and renewable energy.

The UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, described the princess’ visit as a pivotal moment in the partnership with the governments of Nigeria and Sweden, reinforcing their shared vision for a more resilient, innovative, and sustainable future.

Attafuah also highlighted Nigeria’s dynamic innovation landscape, noting the growing ecosystem of climate-tech startups offering practical solutions in renewable energy, the circular economy, and digital sustainability.

The United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Africa, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, emphasised that Sweden has been an invaluable partner in the UN’s shared commitment to sustainable development in Nigeria.

She praised Sweden’s flexible and core funding, which enables UNDP to implement impactful and transformative programmes that align with Nigeria’s aspirations for economic resilience and environmental sustainability.