EU-Nigeria Business Forum opens in Lagos as Brussels deepens investment push across Africa

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By AfricaHeadline | In a Nutshell

LAGOS — The AfricaHeadline is on the ground covering the EU-Nigeria Business Forum 2026, where European and Nigerian leaders, development finance institutions and private sector executives are meeting to accelerate investment in Africa’s largest economy.

Held in Lagos under the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, the forum brings together senior officials including Nigerian Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, EU Ambassador Gautier Mignot, and ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray.

Discussions are centred on mobilising private capital for infrastructure, renewable energy, healthcare, transport, agriculture and digital transformation, as Europe seeks to strengthen its economic partnership with Nigeria through investment rather than traditional development assistance.

A key feature of the programme is the announcement of new financing facilities involving the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Bank of Industry (BoI), the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) and other European development finance institutions, aimed at unlocking investment in green technologies, digital innovation, healthcare manufacturing and agribusiness.

The forum also highlights the growing role of fintech and digital finance, with Daya founder Tomiwa “Aleph” Lasebikan presenting how stablecoin-based payment infrastructure could reduce the cost of cross-border trade for African businesses.

Beyond the plenary sessions, dozens of business-to-business meetings are expected to connect European investors with Nigerian companies across transport, renewable energy, agribusiness and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

For both Brussels and Abuja, the forum represents more than a diplomatic gathering. It reflects a shared ambition to position Nigeria as a regional investment hub while strengthening Europe’s economic footprint in Africa amid intensifying global competition for capital and strategic influence.