The Enugu State Government and the European Union have renewed commitments to deepen cooperation across major sectors of the state’s economy, covering education, energy, infrastructure, and youth development. This followed a courtesy visit to Governor Peter Mbah at Government House, Enugu, by a high-powered EU delegation led by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Gautier Mignot. The visit was confirmed in a statement from the governor’s media office on Saturday. The delegation also included the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Pieter Leenknegt; the Portuguese Ambassador, Mr Paulos Martins dos Santos; and several other senior European diplomats.
During the meeting, Ambassador Mignot said the EU was ready to expand a partnership that aligns with the transformational policies introduced by the Mbah administration. He explained that their mission was aimed at strengthening areas of mutual interest that support long-term development goals. “The purpose of our visit is to meet you, pay our respects, and discuss how to strengthen the partnership between the European Union and Enugu State. We are very interested in areas where our projects meet your administration’s expectations and long-term vision,” he said.
Mignot outlined ongoing collaborations with the state, noting that Enugu remains one of the EU’s key beneficiary states in several sectors. He highlighted progress in the energy sector, particularly the Solar for Health project. Under this programme, Enugu will receive technical assistance and funding for 20 solar microgrids designed to power 20 primary healthcare centres and 124 small and medium-sized enterprises. He further mentioned the Small Hydro Power for Agro-industrial Sectors Project implemented by UNIDO, along with the Nigeria Energy Support Programme of GIZ, which provides electrification support, investment advisory services, and capacity building. “Three interconnected minigrids of up to 1 MW capacity will also be funded to electrify at least 1,000 beneficiaries,” he added.
On education, the EU envoy announced that Enugu had been selected as one of the beneficiary states under the Education and Youth Empowerment in Nigeria programme (EISS) implemented by UNESCO. According to him, the programme supports teacher training in Smart Green Schools and will run until June 2028. “Building resilience and capacity among teachers is central to our goals,” he said. Mignot also referenced the EU’s support for the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival, describing it as an important platform for cultural and creative exchange. “The 2025 edition in Enugu provided training for aspiring filmmakers and awarded grants for short film projects. We value this growing partnership with the creative industry,” he noted.
Belgian Ambassador Pieter Leenknegt spoke on Belgium’s long-standing economic presence in Enugu, pointing to Emenite Limited, a joint venture with roots dating back to 1961. He explained that the company remains a key employer in the region. “Emenite has over 300 employees from this region. It remains a shining example of Belgian–Nigerian cooperation. We want to continue strengthening this relationship,” he said.
Portuguese Ambassador Paulos Martins dos Santos highlighted Portugal’s interest in Nigeria’s energy, agricultural, and infrastructure sectors. He explained that Portugal hopes to deepen partnerships that support the EU’s broader engagement with Nigeria. “The footprint of the European Union in this country is huge and multidimensional. Portugal looks forward to enhancing its contribution to this partnership, especially in areas that complement Enugu’s development plans,” he stressed.
Governor Mbah, in his remarks, praised the EU for aligning its programmes with the state’s development priorities. He explained that the government’s allocation of more than 33 per cent of its total budget to education is intentional and focused on securing the future. “I see a strong synergy between our vision in Enugu and the EU’s programmes across Africa. Our investment of over 33 per cent of our total budget in education is deliberate. If we fail to equip our children today, we will pay ten times more in the future,” he stated.
He used the meeting to invite EU member states to explore investment opportunities in the state’s aviation, natural gas, and energy sectors. Mbah said the government had launched Enugu Air, adding that the international wing of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport would soon be operational. “We encourage you to speak to your home carriers to begin to consider direct flights to Enugu,” he said.
The governor also highlighted efforts to expand gas infrastructure. “We are working with the Federal Government to expand the gas pipeline infrastructure. This will unlock enormous economic opportunities in the gas subsector. Enugu is open for business, and we will do everything necessary to ensure investments succeed,” he added.
The visit ended with both sides reaffirming a shared commitment to deeper cooperation aimed at accelerating development and improving living conditions across Enugu State.
