Nigeria-Germany Expo to Drive Investment, Jobs — LOC

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Nigeria-German Investment and Cultural Expo (NGICE 2026) has described the forthcoming event in Berlin as a strategic platform that will support the objectives of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The committee said the expo is expected to attract foreign direct investment, strengthen bilateral economic relations between Nigeria and Germany, and create fresh opportunities for business growth.
The Coordinator of NGICE 2026 and Nigerian Cultural Ambassador to Germany, Ambassador Chielo Ojirika, made this known on Thursday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
According to NAN, President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda focuses on promoting investment and cultural development through wide-ranging macroeconomic reforms, infrastructure expansion, and the growth of Nigeria’s creative economy. The administration also aims to diversify the economy, achieve a one trillion-dollar economy, and generate over 100 billion dollars from the creative and tourism sectors by 2030.
Ojirika said the 2026 edition of NGICE, chaired by former Inspector General of Police Sir Mike Okiro, will bring together investors, government officials, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders from both Nigeria and Germany.
He explained that the expo will promote partnerships in sectors including manufacturing, renewable energy, agriculture, technology, healthcare, and infrastructure.
According to him, increased investment in these sectors will stimulate economic growth, improve productivity, and create employment opportunities for Nigerians.
He added that the expo aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda by supporting industrialisation and economic diversification, noting that Germany’s expertise in engineering, industrial production, vocational training, and green technology presents valuable opportunities for technology transfer and capacity building.
Ojirika said investment agreements, business networking sessions, and technology exhibitions will provide Nigerian businesses with access to innovative solutions that can improve competitiveness, strengthen local production, and reduce dependence on imports.
He also noted that the event will empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by linking Nigerian entrepreneurs with German investors, development institutions, and business support organisations.
According to him, such partnerships will improve access to finance, international markets, and technical expertise, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda’s commitment to inclusive economic growth and support for youth and women-led businesses.
Beyond the economic benefits, Ojirika said the cultural aspect of the expo will deepen people-to-people relations between Nigeria and Germany.
He explained that cultural exhibitions, artistic performances, educational exchanges, and tourism promotion will strengthen mutual understanding, encourage collaboration within the creative industry, enhance Nigeria’s global image, attract tourists, and create more opportunities for cultural exports.
He described the Nigeria-German Investment and Cultural Expo as a catalyst for sustainable development through the combination of investment promotion and cultural diplomacy.
According to him, the expo’s outcomes will contribute directly to the Renewed Hope Agenda by promoting economic growth, job creation, human capital development, and stronger international partnerships.
Ojirika said the NGICE team, under the leadership of former IGP Mike Okiro, has been working closely with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and other relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
He disclosed that the team had earlier met with Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, the current Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, German Ambassador to Nigeria Ambassador Annette Günter, and other senior government officials.
He further revealed that NGICE recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Catholic Television of Nigeria (CTV) to promote Nigerian-German investment and cultural activities globally.
According to him, these engagements are necessary because the SGF is expected to lead the Nigerian delegation to Berlin to showcase the country’s investment opportunities and rich cultural heritage.
Ojirika commended the Federal Government, through the OSGF, for supporting the initiative during his recent meeting with Dr. Bekearedebo Augusta Warrens, Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs, OSGF.
He urged the government to accelerate preparations for the expo to ensure its objectives are fully achieved.
He also encouraged Nigerians to contribute actively to national development, saying his experience in Germany showed that citizens consistently focus on how to make their country prosper, a principle that inspired the NGICE Public-Private Partnership initiative.