The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nigeria, Kim Pankyu, has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s ability to strengthen its leadership and potential across Africa. Speaking during an interview marking the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Nigeria, Ambassador Kim highlighted the growing economic, security, and cultural ties between the two nations.
Ambassador Kim emphasized Nigeria’s strategic importance as Korea’s largest trade and investment partner in Africa, accounting for 10% of Korea-Africa trade and over 70% of Korea’s project contracts on the continent. In 2024, bilateral trade increased by 38.6%, exceeding $2.2 billion — a reflection of the deepening economic partnership.
He cited key areas of cooperation, including the recent approval of SD Biosensor’s HIV rapid test kit for packaging in Nigeria, with 15 million kits set to be distributed across Africa this year. Ambassador Kim also noted that leading Korean companies such as Daewoo Construction and Samsung Heavy Industries have made significant contributions to Nigeria’s economy through job creation and infrastructure development.
On security, Ambassador Kim underscored Korea’s commitment to enhancing maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and strengthening military cooperation through capacity building and defense agreements.
Cultural and developmental ties are also expanding. The Korean Embassy recently opened the Korea-Nigeria Information Access Center in Abuja to support digital capacity building. Additionally, KOICA is implementing a $13 million digital governance project and a $10 million multimedia learning initiative in Nigerian primary schools.
Looking ahead, both countries are working to finalize key agreements, including the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and the Trade and Investment Promotion Framework (TIPF) MOU. Ambassador Kim expressed confidence that these agreements will further solidify economic ties and attract more Korean investment to Nigeria.
Regarding migration pathways, the ambassador acknowledged Korea’s labor shortage and suggested that skilled Nigerian workers could migrate to Korea through company sponsorship programs, subject to bilateral agreements.
Ambassador Kim reaffirmed Korea’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s agricultural sector through initiatives like the Korea-Africa Food and Agricultural Cooperation Initiative (KAFACI) and the K-Ricebelt program. He also encouraged Nigeria to join Korea’s Saemaul Undong rural development program to drive agricultural transformation.
Educational and cultural exchanges remain a key pillar of bilateral relations. Over 90 Nigerian students have benefited from Korea’s Global Korean Scholarship (GKS) program, with the recent launch of a GKS Alumni Network aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. The Korean Cultural Center Nigeria (KCCN), the first in Africa, continues to promote Korean culture through events, film festivals, and collaborations with Nollywood.
Ambassador Kim concluded by reaffirming Korea’s long-term commitment to Nigeria, stating: “I am confident that Nigeria will further strengthen its leadership and potential across the continent.”
