The Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm, has called for stronger Nordic-Nigerian partnerships and sustained ecosystem development as Nigeria advances its digital transformation agenda.
She made the appeal on Wednesday in Enugu during the 2026 Enugu Tech Festival, which convened academics, innovators, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore opportunities in the country’s growing technology sector.
Westerholm led a Nordic delegation to the festival, joining the Danish Consul-General in Lagos and representatives of several Nordic companies to explore investment and collaboration prospects within Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
“The future does not arrive fully formed; it is built by those who dare to imagine it,” she said, noting that the festival demonstrated ambition, creativity, and forward momentum.
According to the ambassador, the Nordic delegation attended not merely as observers but as active partners seeking collaboration in renewable energy, innovation, ecotourism, and digital development.
She described the Enugu Tech Festival as an emerging platform driving Nigeria’s digital transformation, where policy intersects with entrepreneurship and talent connects with opportunity.
Highlighting Nigeria’s strengths, Westerholm pointed to the country’s youthful population, resilience, and ingenuity as strategic assets in the global digital economy. She stressed that investments in digital skills, cybersecurity, innovation ecosystems, and public-private partnerships should be treated as strategic priorities rather than secondary measures.
Drawing from the Nordic experience, she said innovation thrives in environments supported by stable institutions, predictable regulations, digital readiness, and strong cooperation between government and the private sector.
She noted that Sweden, despite its population of about 10 million people, consistently ranks among global leaders in startup success per capita. She attributed the country’s achievements to openness, institutional stability, and a commitment to ensuring technology serves society.
However, the ambassador cautioned that innovation models from cities like Stockholm or Copenhagen cannot simply be transplanted into Nigeria. Instead, she urged the country to adapt global best practices to local realities.
She added that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, robotics, biotechnology, and clean energy are reshaping global competitiveness, but emphasised that technology alone does not determine outcomes.
Addressing young innovators at the festival, Westerholm encouraged discipline, integrity, and perseverance, urging them to recognise their role in shaping Nigeria’s digital future.
She also affirmed that Swedish companies participating in the event are ready to build long-term partnerships with Nigerian startups, universities, regulators, and investors.