Abuja: The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Nigerian-German Investment and Cultural Expo (NGICE 2026) in Berlin has described the expo as a strategic platform for advancing the objectives of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The committee said the expo would help in attracting foreign direct investment, strengthening bilateral economic ties, and creating new opportunities for business growth.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Amb. Chielo Ojirika, the Coordinator of NGICE 2026 and Nigerian Cultural Ambassador to Germany, emphasized the expo’s role in facilitating partnerships in key sectors such as manufacturing, renewable energy, agriculture, technology, healthcare, and infrastructure. He noted that increased investment in these sectors could stimulate economic expansion, improve productivity, and generate employment opportunities for Nigerians.
Ojirika highlighted that the expo aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda’s focus on industrialization and economic diversification. Germany’s expe
rtise in engineering, industrial production, vocational training, and green technology offers valuable opportunities for knowledge transfer and capacity building. Through investment agreements, business networking sessions, and technology showcases, Nigerian businesses can gain access to innovative solutions that enhance competitiveness, improve local production capacity, and reduce dependence on imports.
He also pointed out the potential of the expo to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are vital drivers of Nigeria’s economy. By connecting Nigerian entrepreneurs with German investors, development institutions, and business support organizations, the event can open access to finance, international markets, and technical expertise. This aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda’s commitment to fostering inclusive economic growth and supporting youth and women-led enterprises across the country.
Beyond economic benefits, Ojirika stressed the cultural component of the expo, which can strengthen
people-to-people relations between Nigeria and Germany. Cultural exhibitions, artistic performances, educational exchanges, and tourism promotion can deepen mutual understanding and encourage collaboration in the creative industries. Such engagement can enhance Nigeria’s global image, attract tourism, and create additional opportunities for cultural exports, contributing to economic development while celebrating Nigeria’s rich heritage.
Ultimately, the Nigeria-German Investment and Cultural Expo can become a catalyst for sustainable development by combining investment promotion with cultural diplomacy. Its outcomes can contribute directly to the Renewed Hope Agenda’s goals of economic growth, job creation, human capital development, and international partnerships. By leveraging Germany’s investment potential and technological expertise while showcasing Nigeria’s economic opportunities and cultural strengths, the expo can help build a more prosperous, globally connected, and resilient Nigerian economy.
The c
oordinator noted that the NGICE team, under the chairmanship of former IGP Mike Okiro, had been partnering with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and other relevant government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. The NGICE team had earlier visited key officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, and the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Annette Gunter, among others.
Recently, NGICE signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Catholic Television of Nigeria (CTV) to promote Nigerian-German investment and cultural activities to the global community. Ojirika commended the Federal Government through the OSGF for supporting the initiative and urged the government to fast track the expo preparations in order to realize its desired objectives. He also called on Nigerians to contribute to the development of Nigeria, citing his experience in Germany where citizens actively participate in the country’s prosperity, which informed the NGI
CE’s Public Private Partnership initiative.