FG Seeks Deeper German Skills-tech Ties To Drive $1trn Economy Ambition

Nigeria is intensifying its partnership with German investors, aiming to secure key outcomes in technology transfer, skills development, and legal migration pathways. These partnerships are seen as key enablers for the country’s bold goal of achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, who welcomed a high-level delegation from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) Giessen-Friedberg, Germany, led by CEO Mathias Leder, in Abuja on Wednesday, emphasised that Nigeria’s growth strategy is heavily reliant on private-sector-led innovation, vocational training, and strong global alliances.

The Minister detailed ongoing reforms in education, the digital economy, and youth training, designed better to match Nigerian talent with global labour market demands and attract foreign manufacturing and tech investment.

He emphasised the need for deeper collaboration with German companies to enhance industrial output and entrepreneurial capacity, highlighting Nigeria’s large population and domestic market as significant competitive advantages.

Addressing the issue of migration, Bagudu made a firm commitment: “We are eager to demonstrate more success. We Nigerians want to assure everyone that we are more committed to stopping illegal migration. Because we believe our young men and women can participate in lawful migration, to the extent that that’s what they want.

“And we are building a country where opportunities are being created, such that that is an option. It’s not the only option. It’s by choice. But more importantly, we have partners such as you who have been working in this area. So where we need to do more, please do not feel shy about telling us what we need to do more and quicker, so that we can complement your hand-holding us to achieve better outcomes in this area.”

He reaffirmed the government’s stance on supporting legal migration channels alongside economic reforms.

He also assured the German delegation of Nigeria’s potential, particularly in utilising the abundance of technology and skills held by Germany and its companies for mutually beneficial growth.

“And of course, the B2B and the wider issue of entrepreneurship. Now, our president has challenged all of us in his team to generate a $1 trillion economy by the year 2030. It’s a very big ambition, and most of the growth is to come from the private sector.

“We want German companies, small, medium and big, to play a bigger role in Nigeria. We want our entrepreneurs to link up with German ecosystem technologies, skilled manpower and know-how, so that we can generate more trade growth, we can generate more value from our relationship, which can even absorb some of the skilled manpower we are targeting,” Bagudu urged.

He further revealed that the upcoming National Development Plan (2026–2030) will include strategic international ideas and programmes which could be integrated into the document for long-term economic targets.

The minister told the delegation that his ministry is working hard to identify the needs of the thousands of wards across various local governments in Nigeria.

“This ministry is leading an effort to understand the unique opportunities that are in each of those wards and see how we can use them to generate more growth, more prosperity. Of course, at the root of it will be know-how, innovation, and technology,” Bagudu said.

On the German side, the CEO of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), Giessen-Friedberg, Mr Mathias Leder, emphasised that recent engagements have already yielded notable progress.

Leder pointed to the success of a joint business-to-business conference in Germany, where 24 industries were represented, with Nigeria recording the largest delegation among 14 participating countries and securing high-level investment interest.

He also highlighted the ongoing pilot programme on legal labour migration, where 18 Nigerian youths are currently on track for German language certification and placement into dual vocational training with German companies.

The German business executive announced plans for an expanded international B2B investment conference to be held on 9 and 10 June 2026, where Nigeria has been invited to present priority sectors and potential projects to global investors.

The delegation also disclosed a special programme to support women entrepreneurs, alongside renewed commitments to deepen structured pathways for skilled Nigerian workers to access training and job opportunities in Germany.

“It is a high-level conference where you will meet ministers, ambassadors and high-ranking CEOs of companies, and it’s a fantastic opportunity to attract these people,” he said.