German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed admiration for the creativity and innovation displayed by Nigerian start-ups during his visit to the UNDP Innovation Centre in Lagos.
The visit, which took place on Thursday as part of his official trip to Nigeria, showcased the potential of Nigeria’s entrepreneurial landscape to foster international collaboration and economic growth.
President Steinmeier, who interacted with five Nigerian start-ups during the programme, remarked, “I’m fascinated by the creativity and innovation of your young entrepreneurs in these start-up companies.”
In his closing remarks, he further expressed gratitude on behalf of the German delegation, saying, “On behalf of the whole German delegation, let me express our gratitude for providing us with this opportunity to see what kind of new economy start-up creativity is here in Nigeria present, and I’m quite sure that we are taking benefit from this exchange with your companies and your creativity.”
The President highlighted the growing collaboration between Nigerian and German businesses, noting, “I understood that many of these youngsters have already come to the German market… so, I’m quite happy to see that they’re not only convincing solutions, but there is growing communication with German companies. Therefore, we are really looking forward in encouragement by your words and what we were able to see.”
William Tsuma, Head of the UNDP Innovation Centre in Lagos, emphasised the significance of start-ups in shaping Nigeria’s future as he said, “If you think of the priorities of the future, you focus on what start-ups are trying to say. They’re not just innovative; they’re giving us a compass into the future.”
Elsie Attafuah, UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, highlighted the importance of the German President’s visit: “We are very happy that His Excellency, the President of Germany, chose to visit the UNDP Innovation Centre here in Lagos. It is a true symbolism of the partnership we have.”
She added, “We live in a world of complexities now… It’s not about exploitation but collaboration. Two federal countries—the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Federal Republic of Germany—are working together. Our role is to support that partnership.”
Representatives from Nigerian start-ups shared their excitement and aspirations for the partnerships fostered through the event.
Habiba Ali, CEO and Founder of Sosai, a sustainable energy solution provider, said, “Even before the President walked in, there were already people from the business group who came in, and they were so interested. One of the women was actually another solar business owner in Germany.
“One of the ways that I’ve grown and be who I am is in partnership with a Dutch organisation. Getting another German organisation to partner with us again means that most of the solutions we want to present, about 64 communities coming forward, will be easier to do because they will bring in technical capacity, we will bring in on-ground knowledge, the partnership actually make the whole thing scale.
“And what will it mean to Nigerians? It means about over 200,000 people will have access to energy within the next five years, at least from my company alone. And then, with the support of the Nigerian Government, Through the Rural Edification Agency, this also means that we can actually expand more, because they have more sites that we can actually get into, and seeing that we can get the support of the German Government will actually skyrocket most of the things that we’re doing.”
Jane, an Operations Team Member at Oystr, a money lending and loan start-up, said, “We’re very very optimistic, I’m actually really excited. So, we’ve built something, we’ve been behind the works doing all the backend and all the coding and development that is needed to put the work out there, and ensure that the platform is ready, accessible, and in use. So, it would be a shame if it’s not actually good to use. So, we’re open for opportunities, funding, grants and anything that comes up.”The visit underscored the potential for deeper collaboration between Nigeria and Germany, particularly in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. It also highlighted Nigeria’s role as a hub for creative solutions to global challenges, setting the stage for continued partnerships that benefit both nations.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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