Former Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba has advocated a stronger technology-driven partnership between Nigeria and Taiwan, urging both countries to move beyond traditional trade relations towards joint innovation in agriculture.
Ndoma-Egba made the call while speaking at Taiwan Smart Agriweek 2026, held at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre.
His media team disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.
The former Senate leader said Taiwan’s advancement in agricultural technology offered valuable lessons for African countries seeking practical solutions to food insecurity, agricultural productivity and youth unemployment.
“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, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, stressed the importance of universities in advancing technological and agricultural transformation.
He said collaboration between institutions of higher learning in Nigeria and Taiwan could promote joint research, skills acquisition, technology incubation, innovation and commercialisation, while equipping young people with the expertise required to build agricultural enterprises.
“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, who was recently appointed Grand Patron of the Hybrid Culture, Technology and Innovation Promotion Initiative (HyCuTIPI), also encouraged Taiwanese investors and institutions to explore opportunities 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 providing a platform for discussions and partnerships around agricultural technology.
He also recognised the efforts of HyCuTIPI in promoting stronger technology, innovation and economic ties between Nigeria and Taiwan.
The former Senate leader, who also chairs the advisory board of Start-Rite Schools, Abuja, said the agricultural sector was increasingly being shaped by smart technologies, digital solutions, sustainability and knowledge-based innovation.
According to him, Nigeria’s private sector, universities and innovation ecosystem are positioned to work with international partners to convert emerging opportunities in agriculture into sustainable economic benefits.
“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 said the Nigerian delegation attending Smart Agriweek 2026 in Taiwan included HyCuTIPI President, Amb. David Adejuwon, and its Legal Adviser, Mr Peter Abodunrin.
Other members of the delegation included Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (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 registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to promote linkages between technology, innovation, culture and global economic opportunities in support of inclusive and sustainable development in Nigeria.
