Nigeria, Estonia to Strengthen Bilateral Ties, Trade Relations.
By Caroline Ameh
Nigeria and Estonia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening diplomatic and economic ties, with a focus on trade, digital innovation, and multilateral cooperation. This was highlighted during a meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and his Estonian counterpart, who was on an official visit to Nigeria on Friday in Abuja.
The Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister emphasized the shared values between both nations, particularly in their principled positions on the global stage. He noted that Nigeria and Estonia would continue to work closely in international forums such as the United Nations.
“As part of our growing relationship, we are looking forward to establishing embassies in each other’s countries. We believe this partnership is valuable and will continue to strengthen in the coming years,” he stated.
The Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minna-Liina Lind reaffirmed Estonia’s commitment to deepening ties with Nigeria, acknowledging that while Estonia is a smaller nation with a population of 1.3 million, both countries share strong global principles.
“Despite our size differences, Estonia and Nigeria have much in common in terms of our values and international stance. We believe in strengthening multilateral cooperation and advancing shared goals in global governance,” he said.
Trade and economic collaboration were key discussion points, with the Estonian Minister highlighting Estonia’s digital advancements and its interest in Nigeria’s growing startup ecosystem.
“We know that Nigeria has many vibrant startups, and we see opportunities for collaboration. Estonia, as a member of the European Union, is also keen on expanding trade partnerships,” he added.
The meeting also addressed plans for an Estonian trade delegation to visit Nigeria, particularly to attend an event in Lagos, to explore investment opportunities. Additionally, the ministers discussed ongoing educational exchanges, with Estonia hosting Nigerian students, as well as the success of Estonia’s ride-sharing company, Bolt, in Nigeria.
The discussions concluded with both ministers expressing optimism about future engagements that would enhance economic growth and diplomatic collaboration between the two nations.
