Nigeria and Kazakhstan are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen bilateral ties and foster cooperation in agriculture, trade, and information technology.
The agreement is being finalized at a business conference in Abuja, held on Sunday, and facilitated by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. The event brought a 30-member delegation from Kazakhstan’s public and private sectors to Nigeria to explore opportunities for collaboration.
Speaking at the conference, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, highlighted Nigeria’s strategic vision for digital transformation. Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Faruk Yabo, Dr. Tijani noted that the Ministry has developed a six-pillar strategic blueprint, each of which presents potential areas of collaboration with Kazakhstan.
“In particular, the first pillar focuses on knowledge, capacity building, and talent development. Kazakhstan has a strong knowledge base in ICT, which presents significant opportunities for partnership,” he stated.
He further emphasized Nigeria’s ambitious initiative to train three million technical professionals by 2027, with at least 1.5 million expected to secure employment in Europe, while the rest contribute to the local economy. Additionally, he noted the potential for collaboration in artificial intelligence, highlighting Nigeria’s recently drafted AI strategy, and called for cooperation in digital infrastructure development.
Similarly, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, underscored the progress made in Nigeria’s agricultural sector under the current administration. He expressed optimism about potential partnerships with Kazakhstan in various aspects of agriculture.
“We are scheduled to meet on Tuesday at 2:00 PM for an in-depth discussion on opportunities in the agricultural sector between Nigeria and Kazakhstan,” Kyari stated. “This partnership is not just about attracting investments but also about fostering mutual exchange. We want to understand their needs, as Nigeria has an abundance of agricultural products that could meet their demands.”
The head of the Kazakhstan delegation, Alibek Kuantyrov, emphasized the significance of this visit, marking the first official Kazakh delegation to Nigeria. He highlighted the similarities between both nations, particularly their youthful populations, as a strong foundation for economic cooperation.
“Our focus is economic development. Kazakhstan is the largest economy in Central Asia, just as Nigeria is a leading economy on the African continent,” Kuantyrov said. “We view Nigeria as a strategic partner and a gateway to the African market. There is strong potential for collaboration in trade, mineral resources, and mutual investment.”
He further noted Kazakhstan’s expertise in ICT, artificial intelligence, and FinTech, stating that discussions were underway to establish Kazakh FinTech and banking companies in Nigeria. Additionally, he proposed student exchange programs to train one million IT specialists in Kazakhstan.
The Ooni of Ife, who convened the meeting, commended President Bola Tinubu for his proactive leadership in facilitating the conference, which follows a meeting between the presidents of Nigeria and Kazakhstan in Abu Dhabi earlier this year.
“They are serious about business and have come with their largest delegation,” the Ooni remarked. “This partnership will create employment opportunities for Nigerian youth, particularly in tech and AI. Additionally, Kazakhstan is revising its visa policies to accommodate skilled Nigerian professionals in these fields.”
This landmark engagement between Nigeria and Kazakhstan is expected to open new avenues for economic growth and technological exchange between the two nations.
