News Agency of Nigeria
Nigeria-UK N16trn current trade value highest ever — High Commissioner
Foreign

Nigeria-UK N16trn current trade value highest ever — High Commissioner

By Mark Longyen

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, says the trade value between Nigeria and Britain, which currently stands at 7.9 billion pounds (16 trillion naira) has hit an unprecedented level.

Montgomery made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

He lauded the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP)which he said boosts trade relations by removing non-tariff trade and investment barriers to foster cooperation in priority sectors.

According to him, the ETIP, which also promotes collaboration with the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), would scale the trade value by providing generous trading terms and tariff reductions on Nigerian products.

“So I’m really delighted at our most recent trade figures. The 7.9 billion pounds or 16 trillion Naira trade is the highest that it’s ever been between the UK and Nigeria. And so it’s a very positive trajectory.

“The enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) is exciting because it’s a mutually agreed set of sectors and issues on which the UK and Nigeria government are going to work on.

“It’s happening under the umbrella of our respective ministers, the federal minister of industry, investment and trade, and the UK business and trade minister,” he said.

He added: “The exciting thing about ETIP is, and you’ve used the word leverage, that’s precisely right.

“It identifies through mutual agreement the areas that the UK feels it has a comparative advantage in and the areas that Nigeria wants to create more economic opportunities in.”

Montgomery said the UK was not competitive in all sectors, but has major advantages in various sectors, including the financial services, new technology, financial technology, artificial intelligence and other digital platforms.

The British envoy said that in the creative economy, his country has some advanced manufacturing and advanced energy solutions, which are worth looking at, and credible in the Nigerian context.

He said the UK was doing a lot in higher education investments in the Nigerian education sector, as well as in the agricultural sector to boost Nigeria’s agricultural exports, considering its high potential.

“So, the ETIP identifies these priorities and we have ways of following up in each sector with the businesses and the government agencies on both sides that can unlock more investment and growth.

“The aim is mutual growth, it’s creating jobs in both our countries, and that’s why it’s really important that we realise that ETIP is mutually agreed and negotiated, it’s in both our interests,” he added.(NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Nigeria one of biggest beneficiaries of Brexit — UK envoy
Foreign

Nigeria one of biggest beneficiaries of Brexit — UK envoy

By Mark Longyen

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, has said that Nigeria is one of the countries that benefited the most from Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU), better known as Brexit.

The High Commissioner stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that UK-Nigeria trade and investment relationships are currently being built on a post-Brexit set of rules that bolster trade ties with the potential for mutual economic benefits.

Montgomery said Brexit had allowed more Nigerians to come and live, work, and study in the UK, culminating in the number of diaspora Nigerians in the UK increasing from 300,000 in 2021 to 550,000 in 2025.

“I’d say in the relations to the Nigeria-UK relationship, Nigeria has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of Brexit in terms of our visa regime, which has allowed more Nigerians to come and live and work and study in the UK.

“In 2021, we had an estimate that there were 300,000 people of Nigerian descent or nationality in the UK, a diaspora of 300,000, and now that has risen to 550,000.

“The diaspora from Nigeria has increased partly because of the post-Brexit immigration regime. So Nigeria has been a big beneficiary of Brexit,” he said.

The British envoy explained that following Britain’s exit from Europe, the UK has had realignment in its economic relationships and freedom to do trade deals with wider countries outside the EU.

“So, Brexit is something that has caused a realignment in a lot of our economic relationships and some of those may look positive and some of them may look negative.

“I think that overall, UK has a lot more, if you like, independence and freedom to do trade deals with wider countries outside EU.

“At the moment I’d say the most obvious example is that our relationship with the U.S. is particularly constructive and is leading to these massive U.S. investments in the UK because of the economic freedoms enabled by Brexit,” he said. (NAN)

(Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)

50th anniversary of China-Mozambique relations marked with photo exhibition
Foreign

50th anniversary of China-Mozambique relations marked with photo exhibition

A photo exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Mozambique opened Friday at the Mozambique-China Cultural Center in the Mozambican capital of Maputo.

 

By Nana Musa

A photo exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Mozambique opened Friday at the Mozambique-China Cultural Center in the Mozambican capital of Maputo.

It was jointly organised by the Chinese Embassy in Mozambique, the Mozambican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and Xinhua News Agency Africa Regional Bureau.

The event brought together about 200 participants, including Mozambican Secretary of State for Tourism Fredson Bacar, Chinese Ambassador to Mozambique Zheng Xuan, representatives from various Mozambican sectors, Chinese enterprises operating in Mozambique, and members of the Chinese community.

 

 

Nearly 150 photos on display are divided into three sections, highlighting major historical moments and cooperation outcomes since the establishment of diplomatic ties five decades ago.

The section “Traces of 50 Years of China-Mozambique Friendship” highlights China’s support for Mozambique’s independence struggle and the growth of political, economic, and cultural exchanges.

“Pioneers of People-to-People Exchanges — Chinese Enterprises in Mozambique” showcases Chinese companies’ contributions to local development and livelihoods.

“Lens of Xinhua, Images of the Century” presents classic works by Xinhua, chronicling China’s remarkable development since the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

At the opening ceremony, Bacar expressed gratitude for China’s contribution to Mozambique’s social and economic development over the past 50 years.

He noted that the exhibition vividly illustrates the growth of bilateral ties, a history of friendship, solidarity, and cooperation marked by fruitful results and mutual benefit.

He noted that in recent years, cooperation between Mozambique and China has achieved remarkable outcomes in such areas as finance, infrastructure, energy, transport, telecommunications, science and technology, agriculture, health, education, culture, and tourism.

”Mechanisms such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Forum Macao), and the Belt and Road Initiative have opened a broader space for collaboration, providing platforms to turn Mozambique’s abundant natural resources and agricultural potential into drivers of sustainable development,” Bacar said.

 

Zheng emphasised that traditional friendship between China and Mozambique, which dates back to their joint struggles against imperialism and colonialism, has been continuously strengthened since the establishment of diplomatic ties.

“The two countries have firmly supported each other, deepening practical cooperation and consolidating friendship while jointly pursuing national development and revitalization,” she said.

She said that the exhibition showcases both the history of bilateral relations and tangible achievements in such fields as infrastructure, health, education, and culture.

Samo Gudo, editor-in-chief of the Mozambican News Agency, said he was impressed by the exhibition, which highlights the tremendous changes Mozambique has undergone since independence in 1975 with China’s support.

“We firmly believe that with mutual support, Mozambique and China will go further together,” Gudo added.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

NAN MD calls for unity of purpose at Global South Forum
Foreign

NAN MD calls for unity of purpose at Global South Forum

By Nana Musa

Malam Ali M. Ali, Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has called for unity of purpose to achieve the developmental aims of the Global South Forum.

 

Ali stated this at the meeting of the Global Media Think Tank Forum with the theme ‘’Coordinating Development, Igniting Growth: Global South on the Rise’’ in Kunming, China.

 

‘’As we navigate the complexities of our diversity, we must recognise that our nations are bound by a shared quest – the pursuit of dignity, equity, and sustainable development in a rapidly evolving world.

 

‘’Our differences, far from being liabilities, constitute the very fabric of our collective strength,’’ Ali said.

 

He said that the world’s attention has been drawn to the ascendancy of the Global South with its vast and vibrant tapestry of nations, cultures, and peoples.

 

Ali added that the forum’s combined resources was its greatest asset needed in reshaping the world order through equity, justice and more prosperity.

 

‘’Africa’s burgeoning youth, Asia’s innovative prowess, Latin America’s agricultural abundance, and the Middle East’s strategic nexus – each thread in this rich brocade contributes to a majestic narrative of collective potential.

 

‘’The Global South, erstwhile perceived as a realm of dependency and marginalisation, now emerges as a shining exemplar of resilience, driving the hopes and aspirations of humanity’s most critical mass.

 

‘’Regional bodies such as the African Union, ASEAN, MERCOSUR, BRICS, and the Non-Aligned Movement serve as vital catalysts for our development goals and aspirations,’’ he said.

 

Ali said that the possibilities of the bloc was endless with the synergy of Africa’s youthful dynamism, Asia’s technological innovation, Latin America’s agricultural richness, and the Middle East’s strategic connectivity.

 

‘’As we stand at the cusp of this new era, I urge us to harness our collective resolve, to amplify our voices, and to forge a united front.

 

‘’Together, we can create a world more equitable, more just, and more prosperous for all.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

“Secrets exhibition” at 12th HLF blends History, Trust, Mathematics
Foreign

“Secrets exhibition” at 12th HLF blends History, Trust, Mathematics

By Ibukun Emiola

From ancient Ciphers used by Julius Caesar to encryption machines deployed in World War II, and modern-day online banking, these were on display at the “Secrets exhibition” at the 12th Heidelberg Laureate Forum (HLF) in Heidelberg, Germany.

The interactive exhibition at the 12th Heidelberg Laureate Forum (HLF) at the Mathematics Information Station (MAINS), Senate Hall of the Old University, Heidelberg, shows defining moments of human society

Developed by the Mathematikum in Gießen, the exhibition explores both the personal and technical aspects of secrecy, highlighting its role in trust, communication, war, and digital life.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the interactive stations allow participants to test their memory of passwords, and solve riddles that reveal how well they know a partner.

It also uncover hidden pictures using mirrors, a technique that dates back to the Middle Ages.

In an interview the Head of Outreach for the HLF, Volker Gaibler, said that “Secrets” go beyond concealment to questions of human connection.

“Secrets are not just about hiding information. They are about deciding who you trust, when, and with what kind of knowledge,” he told visitors.

According to him, the exhibition also highlights milestones in the history of cryptography.

“Visitors can decode classical Caesar ciphers, experiment with Jefferson’s wheel cipher, and view a preserved SG41Z encryption machine designed in 1941 as a replacement for Germany’s Enigma device,” he said.

Gaibler noted that wartime cryptography represented a turning point in history.

“Germany relied heavily on the Enigma and later the SG41Z, but Allied cryptographers succeeded in breaking these codes. That breakthrough changed the course of the war,” he said.

While acknowledging cryptography’s “dark history” tied to warfare, Gaibler stressed that the field has since been transformed.

“Today, encryption is mathematically proven and underpins online transactions, secure communication, and digital privacy.

“Modern cryptography has moved beyond hope. Researchers can now prove how hard it is to break an encryption; whether it would take a year or a million years,” he said.

Also, a French Mathematician, Pierre Berger, from IMJ-PRG research institute in Paris, contributed an artistic dimension to the exhibition with simulations of “wild dynamics.”

According to him, his installations, blending mathematics and art, allows visitors to experience the complexity of advanced research visually and interactively.

NAN reports that the exhibition underscores how secrecy, trust, and mathematics are interwoven across history and remain vital in today’s digital world. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bayo Sekoni

Africa must support local innovations to derive global benefits, says Havard don
Foreign , General News

Africa must support local innovations to derive global benefits, says Havard don

By Ibukun Emiola

Prof. Madhu Sudan, an Indian-American Computer Scientist and recipient of the prestigious Nevanlinna Prize, has advised African countries to invest in local innovations to derive global benefits.

 

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the 12th Heidelberg Laureate Forum in Germany, Sudan stressed the need to identify, nurture and connect young innovators with teachers, problems, and industries.

 

According to him, innovation must be supported from the classroom to commercial application if countries like Nigeria are to benefit fully from the global digital economy.

 

“The pipeline should create and extract talent, give them good problems and good teachers to work with.

“Students should be supported from solving individual questions to tackling national challenges, and then linked with commercial settings,” he said.

 

Sudan, a Professor of Computer Science at Harvard University, explained that many nations had succeeded at one end of the innovation spectrum, either in producing theoretical research or building industries.

 

He, however, said only a few had developed a system that worked seamlessly “the entire way.

 

“Once a country becomes successful across the whole chain, the nation profits enormously,” he added.

 

On his groundbreaking work on probabilistically checkable proofs, Sudan said the breakthrough had reshaped complexity theory and optimisation problems by making proofs more robust and verifiable.

 

He noted that the concept had also influenced advances in error-correcting codes, which are central to data storage and communication in the digital age.

 

“Errors are inevitable in a physical universe. The challenge has always been to build codes that can withstand the corruption of data.

“Our work not only ensures that information survives errors but that even summaries of the data can still be verified,” he said.

 

Sudan also urged young scientists from the Global South to take advantage of easier access to information and digital tools.

 

He recalled how difficult it was to access computers while growing up in India, but stressed that Nigerian students no longer needed to be decades behind their counterparts abroad.

 

“Today, students can compete at the forefront. The key is to design questions that are important for local populations. When solved, such questions often become globally relevant,” he said.

 

On the future of complexity theory in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and quantum computing, Sudan acknowledged the “remarkable empirical progress” of AI, which had achieved results previously thought impossible.

 

He, however, noted that a deeper theoretical framework was still lacking.

 

“AI succeeds in ways we don’t fully understand. It sometimes solves Olympiad problems or could even prove theorems in the future. The real challenge for mathematicians is to explain why it works,” he explained.

Sudan advised young researchers to define their own metrics of importance, instead of following trends dictated by global influencers.

 

“The questions that seem hard and important to you personally are often the ones that matter most. Diversity in research directions is vital for progress,” he said.

 

The Heidelberg Laureate Forum, an annual networking event in Germany, brings together the world’s top computer scientists and mathematicians, including recipients of the Abel Prize, Fields Medal, Nevanlinna Prize, and Turing Award, with young researchers from across the globe.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bayo Sekoni

Researcher advocates IoT, AI adoption to boost agriculture
Foreign

Researcher advocates IoT, AI adoption to boost agriculture

By Ibukun Emiola

Dr Nwamaka Okafor, a Nigerian postdoctoral researcher at Argonne National Laboratory, U.S., has urged the Federal Government to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to boost agricultural productivity.

Okafor told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Heidelberg, Germany, on Monday that deploying smart and automated systems in farming would help the country tackle food insecurity.

According to her, it will also help in transition from a consumption-driven economy to a production-focused one.

Her presentation at the ongoing Heidelberg Laureate Forum was titled “Empowering Agriculture through IoT, AI and Citizen Science”, a project funded by the Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation and the Klaus Schirra Stiftung.

According to her, the project centred on the design and deployment of AI-enabled IoT devices for monitoring crop conditions in Nigeria.

“We trained students of Computer Science, Electrical/Electronic Engineering and Agricultural Science at the University of Port Harcourt and the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede.

“The idea was to combine academic training, local knowledge and technology to address a global challenge like food security,” she explained.

Okafor said the training, which lasted more than a month, also exposed farmers to the benefits of real-time data collection in improving traditional farming practices.

She added that many of the farmers were impressed by how automated systems could deliver better results compared to manual methods.

On government adoption of the innovation, Okafor said, “I think this is a fundamental way forward.

“Manual processes are very slow and not very productive, but when replaced with automated processes using technologies like AI and IoT, yield and efficiency increase.”

She, however, stressed that proper sensitisation would be crucial, as some farmers might initially be sceptical of the technologies.

Okafor also urged Nigerian researchers in agriculture, engineering and computer science to work together in developing home-grown solutions.

“When technology is built by the people who use it, it is more powerful.

“You know your story and your pain points, so you can design solutions that fit you best. It should be a collaborative effort,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited Olawunmi Ashafa

We’ve deployed experts to over 40 countries- DG NTAC
Foreign

We’ve deployed experts to over 40 countries- DG NTAC

By Maureen Okon

Dr Yusuf Yakub, Director-General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), says the agency has deployed no fewer than 10,000 professionals to over 40 countries since its inception.

Yakub said this in Abuja on Tuesday during the deployment of 18 TAC volunteers to Liberia and Rwanda.

He said he was pleased to deploy doctors, teachers, and instructors to support Nigeria’s soft power diplomacy under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.

Yakub thanked the volunteers for accepting the national call, stressing that the mission aligned with the president’s 4-D foreign policy thrust; Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora.

“I am delighted to deploy you this morning to Rwanda and Liberia to serve as ambassadors of our country.

“All of this is made possible through the 4-D foreign policy of President Tinubu, which has revived and repositioned the Technical Aid Corps for greater global impact,” he added.

He noted that Tinubu’s foreign policy direction had enabled NTAC to carry out deployments as often as three times a month, boosting Nigeria’s global presence and diplomatic ties.

 “President Tinubu’s passion for soft power diplomacy has made Nigeria a bride to many nations globally. He believes in using knowledge and skills to strengthen regional cooperation,” he said.

Yakub expressed gratitude to the President for backing NTAC, which now served as a tool for projecting Nigeria’s values in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific (ACP) countries.

“NTAC is the key instrument of soft power diplomacy, enabling us to share our human capital through technical aid with fellow black nations in the ACP regions,” Yakub stated.

He emphasised that Nigeria, blessed with rich human resources, should export expertise to sister countries, rather than seeking foreign assistance for what it already possessed.

According to him, the deployments are designed to help bridge both educational and professional gaps in these nations, promoting south-south cooperation and development.

Earlier, Amb. Zakari Usman, Director of Programmes at NTAC, hailed the D-G’s commitment to putting Nigeria on the global stage through consistent deployment of volunteers.

He also commended Tinubu for intensifying the deployment initiative and urged the volunteers to represent Nigeria honourably in their host countries.

Prof. Solomon Ogbu, Team Lead of the volunteers and a professor of International Relations, applauded the President’s sustained support for the soft power initiative.

He thanked the D-G for the rare opportunity to serve Nigeria abroad, pledging that the team would raise the national flag high and make the country proud. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

EU states agree on post-war measures for Ukrainians to return home
Foreign

EU states agree on post-war measures for Ukrainians to return home

Ukrainians

EU countries agreed Tuesday on a coordinated approach to return displaced Ukrainians, when conditions allow, and offering eligible refugees legal residence status.

“Russia’s relentless, unjustified attacks on Ukraine continue. The EU’s solidarity with the Ukrainian people remains steadfast,” said Danish Immigration Minister Kaare Dybvad Bek.

“At the same time it is common sense to prepare for the day when the situation allows for the Ukrainian people to return home to help rebuilding their country,” he added.

Since the beginning of Russia’s war on Ukraine, more than 4.3 million people had fled from Ukraine to the European Union, according to the European Commission.

Germany had taken in the largest overall share, more than 1.2 million people.

Many benefitted from a so-called temporary protection status, which allowed  Ukrainian citizens to access EU labour markets, social benefits and medical care without having to apply for asylum.

This status is set to end in March 2027.

Eligible Ukrainians are to receive national residence permits, “issued for instance on grounds related to employment, training, education or family grounds,” an EU statement said.

EU countries are to support Ukrainians wishing to return to their home country, including allowing exploratory visits to Ukraine and setting up dedicated return programmes.

Under the new guidelines, capitals are also to inform displaced Ukrainians about their options, rights and obligations when their temporary protection status expires. (dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ummul Idris/Chioma Ugboma

IMF: Italy’s labour gap opens door for Nigerian expertise 
Foreign

IMF: Italy’s labour gap opens door for Nigerian expertise 

Labour

By  Olawunmi Ashafa

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Italy’s drive to boost productivity and attract more workers could open opportunities for Nigerian businesses and professionals.

IMF, in its country focus report on Tuesday, said Italy’s economy, though resilient, faces long-term challenges.

The challenges range from an ageing population, weak productivity, and a shortage of skilled labour, making foreign expertise increasingly valuable.

“The Italian economy is resilient, but long-term growth will require higher productivity and more people in work,” said Lone Christiansen, IMF mission chief for Italy.

She noted that Italy’s ageing population and shrinking workforce make foreign expertise vital. “This is where skilled migrants and stronger trade ties can make a difference.”

Christiansen explained: “Growth was supported by strong investment through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and improvements in the labour market, with more jobs on permanent contracts.”

For Nigerian firms, this could mean fresh prospects in trade and investment, particularly as Italy seeks stronger economic partnerships with emerging markets to support growth.

The labour gap may also encourage skilled Nigerian migrants to explore opportunities in Italy, especially in healthcare, agriculture, technology, and small-scale manufacturing.

“Healthcare, engineering, and digital services are areas where Nigeria’s skilled youth could contribute,” a Lagos-based economist told  the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Italy’s resilience last year was evident, recording a primary surplus of 0.4 per cent of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) in spite of global economic uncertainty and trade tensions.

Christiansen said growth was supported by investment through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and improved labour market performance.

However, growth is projected to slow to 0.5 per cent this year before rising to 0.8 per cent in 2026 as NRRP projects near completion.

Christiansen warned that external risks, including trade tariffs, energy costs, and regional conflicts, pose challenges for Italy’s export-driven economy.

She stressed reforms to boost labour participation, especially among women, through childcare support and tax reforms, while improving education, training, and innovation capacity.

The IMF estimates reforms raising participation, skills, and productivity could lift Italy’s growth by up to 0.4 percentage points annually between 2025 and 2050.

Fiscal consolidation remains central, with recommendations for a 3 per cent primary surplus by 2027 to reduce public debt, now about 135 per cent of GDP.

Christiansen also called for stronger corporate dynamism, noting Italy lacks global innovation leaders and struggles with scaling firms, which could open collaborative opportunities with foreign investors.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo

X
Welcome to NAN
Need help? Choose an option below and let me be your assistant.
Email SubscriptionSite SearchSend Us Email