Nigeria and Kazakhstan are set to strengthen bilateral relations through a series of strategic discussions aimed at boosting cooperation in agriculture, trade, and information technology.
The talks, facilitated by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, are taking place during a business conference in Abuja.
A delegation of more than 30 representatives from Kazakhstan’s public and private sectors is participating in the event, exploring opportunities for collaboration with Nigeria.
Speaking at the conference, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, highlighted the progress made in Nigeria’s agricultural sector under the current administration.
He noted that the country had achieved higher harvest yields compared to previous years, signaling growth potential for agricultural partnerships.
Kyari said, “We’re meeting with the Kazakhstan delegation to discuss mutual opportunities in agriculture. We are not just seeking investments; we also want to understand their needs and explore how Nigeria’s agricultural abundance can meet them.”
In addition to agriculture, the discussions also focus on digital innovation.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Faruk Yabo, revealed that Nigeria had developed a strategic blueprint with six pillars for digital growth.
He emphasized knowledge sharing, capacity building, and talent development as key areas for collaboration, citing Kazakhstan’s advanced ICT capabilities.
READ ALSO: Economist Warns Nigeria’s 2025 Budget at Risk Over Oil Price Volatility
“We have launched the largest capacity-building initiative in the world—three million technical talents by 2027—aimed at training Nigerians in technical fields. This program will enable 1.5 million trained Nigerians to work abroad, while the rest will contribute locally,” Tijani stated.
Tijani also disclosed Nigeria’s completion of its national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, signaling potential partnerships with Kazakhstan in AI development and digital infrastructure expansion.
On his part, the head of Kazakhstan’s delegation, Alibek Kuantyrov, described the visit as Kazakhstan’s first official delegation to Nigeria. He noted the similarities between the two countries, particularly their youthful populations, which present opportunities for collaboration.
“Nigeria is a key partner for Kazakhstan in Africa. Both nations are leaders in their respective regions. Together, we can explore trade, goods transit, mineral investments, and ICT development, including AI and FinTech,” Kuantyrov said.
READ ALSO: Nigeria to Recapitalize Bank of Agriculture for Food Security
Kuantyrov added that Kazakhstan plans to open FinTech and banking companies in Nigeria and proposed student exchange programs aimed at training one million IT specialists.
Meanwhile, the Ooni of Ife praised President Bola Tinubu’s role in making the conference possible, describing it as a direct outcome of the presidents of Nigeria and Kazakhstan meeting in Abu Dhabi earlier this year.
“The Kazakhstan delegation is serious and ready to do business. Their willingness to revise visa policies to accommodate talented Nigerians in technology, artificial intelligence, and coding will open new employment opportunities for our youth,” the Ooni said.
The ongoing talks signal a promising future for Nigeria-Kazakhstan relations, with agriculture, digital innovation, and trade at the heart of the partnership.
