Former Nigerian Senate leader Victor Ndoma-Egba has called for a strategic shift in Nigeria-Taiwan relations, urging a transition from conventional trade to deep technological co-creation in agriculture.

Mr Ndoma-Egba made the call during his address at the Taiwan Smart Agriweek 2026, held at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Ndoma-Egba’s media team on Friday in Abuja.

The former Senate leader said Taiwan’s success in agricultural technology serves as an instructive blueprint for African economies looking to address food insecurity and generate youth employment.

“Taiwan offers an instructive example of what becomes possible when knowledge, technology, innovation and enterprise are deliberately deployed to transform agriculture.

“That experience holds considerable relevance for Nigeria and indeed for many African economies seeking to increase productivity, strengthen food security and create sustainable employment.

“It is worthy to note that Nigeria possesses significant agricultural resources, a large and youthful population and one of Africa’s largest consumer markets.

“The opportunity before us is to connect these advantages more deliberately with technology, investment, skills, infrastructure, research and efficient value chains. This presents a compelling opportunity for deeper Taiwan-Nigeria cooperation.

“Our relationship should move beyond conventional buyer-seller transactions towards enduring partnerships in technology transfer, joint ventures, smart agriculture, aquaculture, agricultural processing, renewable energy, digital farming, research, skills development and agricultural finance.

“The ambition should not simply be to import technology; it should be to adapt, localise, improve and eventually co-create technologies suited to African realities, while creating sustainable value for Taiwanese partners,” he said.

Mr Ndoma-Egba, also the pro-chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, explained that universities must play a central role in this transformation.

According to him, stronger partnerships between Taiwanese and Nigerian universities can accelerate joint research, technology incubation, skills development, innovation, commercialisation and the preparation of a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs.

“Africa’s food-security challenges should therefore be seen not only as development concerns, but as significant opportunities for responsible investment and innovation.

“We must build value chains that reduce post-harvest losses, improve farmers’ incomes, create jobs, expand processing capacity and strengthen resilience across the food system,” he said.

Mr Ndoma-Egba, recently appointed grand patron of the Hybrid Culture, Technology and Innovation Promotion Initiative (HyCuTIPI), solicited foreign investment in Nigeria.

“I, therefore, invite Taiwanese companies, financial institutions, research organisations and technology providers to regard Nigeria not merely as a market, but as a long-term partner for investment, innovation and co-creation,” he added.

He commended the organisers of Taiwan Smart Agriweek for creating the important platform.

He also acknowledged HyCuTIPI’s continuing commitment to strengthening technology, innovation and economic linkages between Nigeria and Taiwan.

Mr Ndoma-Egba, also the chairman of the advisory board of Start-Rite Schools, Abuja, further explained that the future of agriculture is increasingly smart, digital, sustainable and knowledge-driven.

According to him, Nigeria’s private sector, universities and innovation community are ready for partnerships that can translate these possibilities into shared prosperity.

“May Taiwan-Nigeria economic and technological cooperation continue to flourish and may the partnership among HyCuTIPI, MY Exhibition Co., Limited and our Taiwanese partners grow from strength to strength,” he said.

The statement also said that the high-powered Nigerian delegation to Taiwan for Smart Agriweek 2026 included the HyCuTIPI President, Amb. David Adejuwon and Legal Adviser, Mr Peter Abodunrin.

The team also included prominent academic and institutional voices, such as Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, Vice-Chancellor of FUOYE, and Prof. Jacob Babayemi, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho (FUNATO), Oyo State.

HyCuTIPI is a not-for-profit organisation duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and dedicated to bridging technology, innovation, culture, and global economic opportunities to drive inclusive, viable development for Nigerian interests.

(NAN)