Nigeria’s Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has intensified calls for a stronger and more strategic partnership between Africa and Europe following a high-level meeting with European Parliament Vice President, Nicolae Ștefănuță.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the 152nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Istanbul, was convened at the request of the European Parliament delegation and focused on advancing cooperation between both regions.
Kalu described the engagement as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to deepen Africa–EU relations, building on a series of previous exchanges between both sides. He recalled his July 2025 visit to European Parliament in Brussels, where discussions centred on strengthening ties between Nigeria, Africa, and the European Union. That engagement was followed by reciprocal visits from EU delegations to Abuja in late 2025 and March 2026.
At Friday’s meeting, the Deputy Speaker elaborated on his proposal for “near-shoring” as a practical solution to migration pressures facing Europe. He urged the EU to invest in establishing industries within Africa, leveraging the continent’s vast human and natural resources.
According to Kalu, deploying industrial and technological capacity on African soil would not only address unemployment but also reduce irregular migration by creating opportunities for young people locally.
“Africa’s teeming young population can be harnessed to meet European manpower needs, but the industrial and technical resources should be deployed in Africa,” he said.
He further called for a shift away from traditional aid-based relationships towards a more balanced and mutually beneficial partnership anchored on what he described as “co-communication.”
Both parties agreed to sustain regular engagements across multiple levels to advance shared interests and strengthen cooperation frameworks.
Kalu was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Sam Hart; Special Adviser on Interparliamentary Affairs, Dr. Salome Ossia; and Special Assistant on Administration, Vivian Okorie. Ştefănuță’s delegation included senior European Parliament officials involved in international partnerships and external policy.
