**Shettima to Lead Nigeria's Research Drive as Country Strengthens Ties with EU** In a major boost to Nigeria's innovation landscape, Vice President Kashim Shettima is set to chair a high-level framework aimed at coordinating the country's research collaboration with the European Union (EU). This development comes as Nigeria solidifies its position as one of Africa's leading participants in the EU's flagship research funding platform, marking a significant milestone in the country's drive to internationalise research and strengthen innovation partnerships. At the recent Nigeria-EU Science and Innovation Day in Lagos, stakeholders from both sides of the Atlantic converged to discuss institutional partnerships and the future of research collaboration. Speaking at the event, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, reaffirmed Nigeria's commitment to deepening global partnerships and strengthening the national innovation system. He highlighted key areas for collaboration, including agricultural productivity, digital transformation, and emerging technologies. The Federal Government is also working to strengthen research financing mechanisms and expand international partnerships to accelerate commercialisation and support enterprise development. This new framework, chaired by Vice President Shettima, will be crucial in driving these efforts forward. The EU, for its part, is committed to a co-creative approach to research collaboration with Nigeria. According to the Head of Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, the partnership is grounded in joint ownership rather than a simple transfer of knowledge. This approach is designed to reinforce national innovation systems, strengthen institutional capacity, and support research-to-market pathways. Nigeria's participation in the EU's Horizon Europe research program has been particularly noteworthy, with the country emerging as one of the leading African participants. As the country continues to grow its research capacity, collaboration with the EU will play a critical role in driving innovation and economic development. With Vice President Shettima at the helm, this new framework is expected to bring a renewed focus to Nigeria's research collaboration with the EU. As the country looks to build on its existing strengths and drive growth in key sectors, this partnership will be crucial in shaping the country's innovation agenda.