On Tuesday, Türkiye and Nigeria signed nine significant agreements following high-level talks between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Ankara. The agreements, reached after one-on-one and delegation-level discussions at the Presidential Palace, aim to deepen cooperation across various sectors, including diaspora policy, media, education, military affairs, and economic trade.
Key Agreements Signed:
- Cooperation on Diaspora Policy
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Presidency of Turks Abroad and Related Communities and Nigeria’s Commission for Nigerians in the Diaspora. - Media and Communication Cooperation
An MoU on collaboration in the fields of media and communication was established. - Higher Education Collaboration
An MoU was signed to foster cooperation between Türkiye and Nigeria in higher education. - Halal Accreditation Cooperation
An MoU was agreed upon between Türkiye’s Halal Accreditation Agency and Nigeria’s National Accreditation System to develop halal quality infrastructure. - Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO)
A joint declaration establishing the JETCO was adopted, aiming to strengthen trade and economic relations. - Military Cooperation
A protocol on military cooperation was signed to enhance defense collaboration. - Educational Cooperation
An agreement on educational cooperation between the two nations was formalized. - Diplomatic Academy Cooperation
MoUs were signed between Türkiye’s Diplomatic Academy and Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Academy to advance diplomatic relations. - Women’s Affairs Cooperation
An agreement between Türkiye’s Ministry of Family and Social Policies and Nigeria’s Ministry of Women’s Affairs was signed to support gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Strengthening Bilateral Relations
This series of agreements marks a further commitment to deepening ties between Türkiye and Nigeria. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been active since 1960, and the trade volume reached $688.4 million in the first 11 months of 2025. With Nigeria emerging as Türkiye’s largest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2025, both nations are set to benefit from increased collaboration in various sectors, including energy, defense, and education.
Notably, Türkiye’s support for Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts, the presence of over 50 Turkish-owned companies in Nigeria, and ongoing defense and security collaborations are pivotal elements of their growing partnership.
Education and Cultural Exchange
The Türkiye Scholarships program has been a major success, with 199 Nigerian students graduating between 1992 and 2023. Currently, 149 Nigerian students are continuing their studies in Türkiye, further strengthening the educational and cultural ties between the two countries.
This partnership showcases the continued growth of Türkiye-Nigeria relations, as both countries aim to collaborate in areas crucial to their mutual development and security.
