EU Rolls Out £730M Grants For Nigeria In 2021-2027 Support Scheme, Ambassador
From Muhammad Kabir, Kano
Mr. Gautier Mignot, European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS,
has said that they are rolling out, for the period 2021 to 2027, €730 million in grants from the EU for Nigeria and €1.5 billion in loans from the European Investment Bank.
“We are rolling out our support through what we call the global gateway investment strategy, which is about partnering with our member states and development banks within what we call Team Europe and using different instruments, loans, grants, guarantees, tailor-made financial instruments, and partnering also with the private sector to leverage more private investment.”
Speaking during a strategic workshop organized by the EU/BUK in, the Ambassador hints that Because they know that this is how they have a chance to meet the sustainable development goals. Not only through public funding, it’s also, and more than anything else, through private investment, they are issuing the grants.
He said in addition to loan package they are have also a new bank active in Nigeria, it’s the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. And these are not simple loans, it’s loans coming with technical assistance and with very low interest rates for the beneficiaries.
Mr. Magnoit notes that he global gateway priorities in Nigeria are climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, transport, digital economy, health. To give just an example of one of our flagship projects, we are participating in the third government’s bridge project, which is about running out 90,000 kilometres of optic fibre throughout the country to connect much better institutions, higher education institutions, companies, and people across the country.
” And we also provide more traditional but still very much needed support on humanitarian needs, as well as peace, security and defence, which is another sector in which we are stepping up our cooperation, both on kinetic and non-kinetic approach
He said their interest, in fact, is very clear. It is to promote stability, prosperity and democracy in this part of the world, and in this country in particular.
“And why that? Because we are neighbours. We have strong human cultural ties which make our partnership special, because our destinies are intertwined. If you are doing well, it will positively impact on us.”
“But if you are doing bad, it will impact us negatively, with insecurity, with illegal migration, et cetera, and vice versa. If Europe is weakened, this is not good news for West Africa and Nigeria. And we also need Nigeria as a partner of the international scene, defending a similar world vision and principles, and of course, a partner in prosperity.”
The Ambassador explained that this is why at a time when all the partners wind down their support, the EU, on the contrary, keeps its commitments and stays its course, because we want to be a reliable and constant partner.
“Last year, we have in particular focused on northern Nigeria, and in particular on the northwest, with a package of some 300 million euros of new projects together with our member states. We have been supporting a lot of projects in the northeast over the last 15 years, and now we are also rebalancing our focus towards the northwest.”
Adding that the examples are many in Kano, on education, on apprenticeship, on digital urban planning, reintegration of return migrants, and many more. And we fund this project, but they are implemented by partners who are also with us today, and I want to recognize their presence, UNICEF, GIZ, UN-Habitat, Plan International, and many others. And we will take, of course, the opportunity of this visit to review some of these projects and see what we can do more here in the state.
“I want also to stress very much another important dimension of our cooperation, which is opportunities for students, scholars, and higher education institutions. You have probably heard about our Erasmus Plus flagship program for higher education. The most famous dimension is the Erasmus Master’s Scholarships.”
“Again, this year, 160 students of Nigeria will go and study in two or more European universities, masters, under this program. And Nigeria is ranking first in Africa year after year. We are very glad with that, and fifth in the world.”
But there are many other dimensions to this program for mobility of scholars and also for cooperation with European universities and capacity building in higher education. And we hope very much to partner with Bayer University Kano in the future under the Erasmus Plus program. But we have also now an intra-African mobility scheme, enabling and funding mobility for scholars and students within Africa.
The Vice Chancellor BUK, Professor Haruna Musa said the presence of 10 European Union ambassadors underscores the shared commitment of Nigeria and the European Union to regional stability, development and human security. Your visit today will further strengthen the already existing cordial relationship between Baira University Colonel and the EU.
He said the University was given university status in 1977. We are looking forward to celebrating our 50 years of existence in April next year, by the grace of God. Since the establishment of Baira University Colonel, it has grown into one of Nigeria’s foremost centres of learning and research.”
“We are currently ranked the third-best university in Nigeria, according to Times Higher Education 1D University Ranking 2026, and the best university in Northern Nigeria. BUK is home to around 50,000 students and about 5,000 staff. Beyond academics, we see ourselves as a university for society that is committed to generating knowledge that addresses real challenges in our region and beyond”.
