German Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul has called for deeper educational and cultural exchanges with Nigeria.
According to him, stronger partnerships between universities, researchers and young people will further strengthen bilateral relations between both countries.
Wadephul made the call on Tuesday night at an official reception hosted by the German Consulate in Lagos in honor of his visit to Nigeria.
The German minister’s visit to Africa, his third in 2026, started from Mauritania on Monday and will end in South Africa on Friday.
On Wednesday, he will meet with Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu for a high-level bilateral consultation aimed at strengthening the longstanding relations between both countries.
He said education and people-to-people exchanges remained central to the longstanding partnership between both countries, haven maintained diplomatic relations for 65 years.
”The number of university partnerships between our countries has grown significantly. Today we are looking proudly on over 50 partnerships.
”The number of Nigerian students in Germany has quadrupled in the last 10 years. We need more of that, including more opportunities to learn German as a foreign language,” he said.
He revealed that the Goethe-Institut in Lagos currently under renovation was expected on completion to provide a modern environment for academic and cultural exchange between both countries.
He added that the institute had also begun offering German language classes in Abuja to expand access to language learning.
Wadephul noted that Nigeria’s youthful and dynamic information technology talent also presented opportunities for deeper collaboration in innovation and skills development.
While highlighting education as a major focus of partnership, he said Germany remained committed to expanding cooperation with Nigeria in security, trade and energy.
He described Nigeria as one of Germany’s most important partners in Africa and beyond, noting that both countries shared common values of democracy, freedom, peace and international law.
”When Europe’s largest economy and Africa’s most populous nation and economic power come together, good things can happen, provided we stand together and work together,” he said.(NAN).
