By Victoria Tokolo
The Ambassador of Finland to Nigeria, Sanna Selin, has called for stronger trade, cultural and people-to-people relations between Nigeria and Finland, saying there is significant room to expand bilateral economic cooperation.
Selin made the call on Tuesday, September 29, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) Ambassadorial Forum in Lagos, where she spoke on the theme, “Nigeria-Finland Relations.”
She identified increased trade between both countries as one of her key priorities, stressing the need for greater interaction between Nigerians and Finns to deepen understanding and unlock new opportunities.
According to her, stronger people-to-people contacts, cultural exchanges, business engagements and official visits would help strengthen the relationship.
“We don’t have to do everything differently from what we did before, but what is very important is to increase the interaction between our countries and have more people-to-people contacts, more trade contacts, more contacts in the field of culture and more visits,” she said.
The envoy also reaffirmed Finland’s support for Nigeria’s quest for a stronger voice in the decision-making structures of the United Nations, including the Security Council.
Selin said Finland would continue to promote greater understanding of Nigeria within the European Union, particularly among policymakers in Brussels.
“Finland is a firm supporter for Nigeria to have a bigger voice in the United Nations decision-making structures, in the Security Council and beyond,” she said.
On economic cooperation, the ambassador urged Nigeria to move beyond the export of raw materials by expanding processing and industrial production.
She said Finland was interested in exploring additional trade and investment opportunities in Nigeria, particularly in digitalisation and energy.
Selin noted that Finnish companies, including Nokia and Wärtsilä, were already active in Nigeria’s technology and power sectors.
She also encouraged Nigeria to further develop renewable energy, especially solar power, noting that Finland had diversified its energy mix through nuclear, wind and solar sources.
The ambassador further advocated stronger economic relations between Nigeria and the European Union, saying a trade agreement could improve access to European markets, attract investment and provide greater predictability for businesses.
She said closer trade relations could also broaden the range of products available to consumers in both markets.
However, Selin expressed concern about insecurity in Nigeria, saying it had restricted her movements in the country.
She disclosed that Finnish companies had technological solutions that could support areas such as border management and expressed hope that discussions on possible cooperation would progress.
On education, Selin highlighted Finland’s experience of investing consistently in education, science and innovation, describing education as a major driver of the country’s development.
She called for continued educational cooperation and knowledge-sharing between Nigeria and Finland.
The ambassador also acknowledged concerns over delays in residence permit applications by Nigerian students seeking to study in Finland. She explained, however, that such decisions were handled by Finland’s migration authorities rather than the Finnish Embassy in Nigeria.
Earlier, the Director-General of NIIA, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, said the forum was organised to deepen understanding of Nigeria-Finland relations and examine opportunities for expanding bilateral cooperation.
Osaghae said the two countries had maintained mutually beneficial relations in areas including education, trade and the digital economy.
He cited the memorandum of understanding signed by Nigeria and Finland in March 2026 on digital governance and transformation and energy transition as an important development in bilateral relations.
According to him, the agreement could support Nigeria’s ambitions in digital governance, artificial intelligence and technological development.
Osaghae said Nigeria could draw valuable lessons from Finland’s experience in education, governance, security and institutional development, describing the partnership as important to the country’s development aspirations.
The forum brought together diplomats, academics and other stakeholders to discuss the future of Nigeria-Finland relations and opportunities for deeper cooperation.
