Nigeria and Brazil have signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in science, technology, and innovation. The agreement was formalised in BrasĂlia by Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, and his Brazilian counterpart, Luciana Santos, in the presence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President Luiz InĂ¡cio Lula da Silva. The pact is seen as a major milestone in South-South collaboration, with a focus on unlocking jobs, industries, and innovation for both nations.
The partnership will cover key areas such as biotechnology, space research, digital transformation, and energy transition. Minister Nnaji described it as a bold step that will open new opportunities for industrial development and innovation-driven employment. President Tinubu, while addressing the gathering, stressed that the agreement was more than symbolic, highlighting technology as a driver of sovereignty, food security, and manufacturing. He also urged greater collaboration in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and technology transfer.
President Lula da Silva hailed the pact as a new beginning in Brazil’s relationship with Nigeria, emphasising stronger economic integration and cooperation across multiple sectors. He noted that agriculture, oil and gas, fertilisers, aviation, and machinery represent vast areas for synergy between the two nations. Lula also underlined the importance of multilateralism, saying both countries were committed to free trade and productive integration in the face of growing protectionism.
The bilateral meeting, which lasted two hours, culminated in the signing of several agreements alongside the main MoU. These included the return of Brazil’s state-owned oil company, Petrobras, to Nigeria after five years, deepening collaboration in gas exploration and refining. Both countries also signed a Bilateral Air Service Agreement to enable direct flights between Lagos and SĂ£o Paulo. Trade between Nigeria and Brazil stood at nearly $2.1 billion in 2024, with Nigeria importing mainly sugar and jams while exporting fertilisers, oil, and gas products.