Nigeria has urged African and European nations to redefine their relationship by building a partnership based on equality, shared interests and long-term resilience as both continents confront an increasingly unstable global environment.
Speaking at the Portugal EurAfrican Forum 2026, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the growing number of international crises requires a fresh approach to cooperation that moves beyond traditional models of engagement.
Global Challenges Demand a New Level of Cooperation
Addressing participants during the forum’s geopolitics panel, which explored how Africa and Europe can respond to mounting global tensions, the minister highlighted the complex challenges reshaping international affairs.
She pointed to ongoing armed conflicts, economic fragmentation, terrorism, climate-related disasters, food insecurity and persistent disruptions to global supply chains as pressing issues that no nation or region can tackle alone.
According to her, these realities make stronger partnerships built on mutual respect and shared responsibility more important than ever.
Africa Should Be Seen as a Strategic Global Partner
Odumegwu-Ojukwu argued that Africa’s global image must evolve beyond narratives centred on humanitarian emergencies or the extraction of natural resources.
Instead, she said the continent should be recognised for its rapidly growing population, expanding consumer markets, rich natural resources and increasing capacity for innovation.
She maintained that Africa possesses significant economic and technological potential capable of contributing meaningfully to global development if given equitable opportunities.
Four Priorities to Deepen Africa-Europe Relations
The foreign affairs minister outlined four major areas she believes should shape future cooperation between Africa and Europe.
The first involves strengthening economic resilience by accelerating industrialisation, expanding infrastructure, encouraging technological advancement and developing stronger regional and international value chains.
Her second priority focused on improving joint efforts to address security threats, including terrorism and regional instability, through closer peace and security cooperation.
She also called for a more balanced approach to climate action, arguing that developed countries should increase climate financing while supporting greater access to technology that enables African nations to meet environmental goals without slowing economic growth.
Finally, she advocated reforms to international governance institutions, particularly the United Nations Security Council, insisting that Africa deserves permanent representation to better reflect today’s geopolitical realities.
Nigeria Reaffirms Its Foreign Policy Direction
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigeria remains committed to pursuing an outward-looking foreign policy aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She explained that the country’s diplomatic strategy continues to prioritise economic diplomacy, regional peace and stability, strategic international engagement and partnerships that create mutual benefits for all parties involved.
Africa Encouraged to Pursue Strategic Independence
The minister also stressed that African countries should strengthen their ability to engage with global powers from a position of confidence rather than dependency.
She argued that decisions affecting the continent should be guided primarily by Africa’s own national and continental interests instead of being shaped by competition between major global powers.
According to her, strategic autonomy will allow African nations to diversify partnerships while protecting their long-term development objectives.
Call for a Partnership Built on Trust and Shared Progress
Concluding her remarks, Odumegwu-Ojukwu encouraged African and European leaders to move beyond relationships based on dependency and instead embrace genuine collaboration.
She said replacing rivalry with cooperation, while promoting innovation, trust and shared responsibility, would enable both continents to navigate geopolitical uncertainty more effectively and contribute to a more peaceful, prosperous and inclusive international order.
The remarks were contained in a statement issued by the spokesperson of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, following the forum held on Thursday, 16 July 2026.
