News in brief:
– Nigeria and Turkiye are collaborating to enhance Nigeria’s agricultural sector through agritech innovation.
– Discussions focused on mechanised farming, tech transfer, trade facilitation, and bilateral economic cooperation.
The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), in collaboration with the Nigeria–Türkiye Business Council (NTBC) and the Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (WCCIMA), is exploring innovative agricultural solutions with the Republic of Türkiye to revolutionise Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
This was the focus of a high-level meeting held at the Turkish Embassy in Abuja during a courtesy visit to Ambassador Mehmet Poroy, the newly appointed Turkish envoy to Nigeria. The delegation was led by Mr. Dele Kelvin Oye, who serves as both the national president of NACCIMA and the chairman of NTBC.
Focus on agritech and mechanisation
Central to the discussion was the need to boost Nigeria’s agro-industrial productivity through advanced Turkish agritech and mechanisation. Ambassador Poroy reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to supporting Nigeria with cutting-edge agricultural machinery, food processing technologies, and efficient mechanised systems that can significantly improve yields and operational efficiency across the agricultural value chain.
Both parties stressed that modernising agriculture through technology transfer, local capacity building, and innovation is crucial for sustainable development and long-term food security in Nigeria.
Strengthening bilateral trade and diplomatic ties
Ambassador Poroy applauded the work of NTBC in advancing Nigeria–Türkiye relations and pledged full support for upcoming initiatives, including the Nigeria–Türkiye Virtual Multisectoral Business Meetings. He also announced Türkiye’s plans to:
- Open a Consulate in Lagos to deepen trade and diplomatic engagement in Southern Nigeria
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Introduce a risk-based two-tier visa screening system to reduce entry barriers for Nigerian entrepreneurs
A high-level Turkish delegation is scheduled to visit Nigeria in August 2025 to explore further cooperation in trade, tourism, culture, and investment.
NTBC’s strategic initiatives
Oye presented an overview of NTBC’s ongoing efforts to drive meaningful engagement between Nigerian and Turkish businesses. These initiatives include:
- Quarterly exploratory trade missions to Türkiye for Nigerian SMEs and first-time exporters
- Joint trade missions to Nigeria with organisations such as DEIK, MUSIAD Nigeria, and the Türkiye Exporters Assembly
- Company verification processes to ensure credible business relationships
- Annual End-of-Year Business Cocktail hosted at the Turkish Embassy since 2022
- Ongoing advocacy and government relations.
He reaffirmed NACCIMA and NTBC’s dedication to nurturing impactful trade partnerships that will drive economic growth and development for both nations.
Commitment to agricultural transformation
The meeting ended with a mutual commitment to prioritise agricultural value chain transformation through technology-driven collaboration, including:
- Mechanised farming
- Post-harvest processing
- Packaging and storage
- Knowledge and skill exchange
These are seen as pivotal to unlocking Nigeria’s agricultural potential and enhancing food security on a national scale.
