Nigeria and Canada have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with renewed focus on trade, investment, renewable energy, education, security, and technological cooperation.
This, was one of the high point of the concluded visit of the Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development), to reinforce Canada’s commitment to modernizing development partnerships, strengthening collaboration with key allies and advancing inclusive economic opportunities through deeper engagement with African partners.
In Nigeria, Secretary of State Sarai announced more than $30 million in humanitarian assistance and development projects benefiting Nigeria and countries across West Africa. These initiatives will strengthen health systems, expand opportunities for women entrepreneurs and small businesses, advance climate resilience and clean growth, deepen cooperation on governance and digital resilience, and invest in Canadian expertise and direct technical assistance to the Nigerian government to strengthen access to justice.
Secretary of State Sarai also highlighted the 6th Canada–Africa Business Conference, taking place June 24 and 25, 2026, in Lagos. This flagship conference, led by the Toronto-based Canada-Africa Chamber of Business, will convene senior decision-makers from across Canada and Nigeria to unlock new opportunities in trade, investment and large-scale project delivery across the continent. He also hosted a trade and development reception with Canadian and Nigerian partners, highlighting opportunities for collaboration in sectors such as clean energy, infrastructure and agri-food.
During his visit, Secretary of State Sarai engaged federal and state leaders, development partners and private sector actors to advance shared priorities at the intersection of development and economic growth. In Abuja and Lagos, Secretary of State Sarai visited health, education and innovation initiatives to reinforce Canada-Nigeria relations and highlight Canada’s support for health care, women’s leadership, youth skills development and locally driven innovation.
