Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, former Nigerian Senate Leader and current Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), has called for a strategic shift in Nigeria-Taiwan relations, urging both countries to move beyond conventional trade towards deeper technological co-creation in agriculture.
Ndoma-Egba made the call while delivering a goodwill message at the opening ceremony of Taiwan Smart Agriweek 2026, held at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre.
The engagement marked his first major international outing following his recent appointment as the Grand Patron of the Hybrid Culture, Technology and Innovation Promotion Initiative (HyCuTIPI). He was part of the high-level Nigerian delegation coordinated by HyCuTIPI at Taiwan Agriweek 2026.
Addressing an international audience comprising diplomats, agricultural innovators, agronomists, investors, researchers, technology executives and policymakers, Ndoma-Egba, who is also Chairman of the Advisory Board of Start-Rite Schools, Abuja, described Taiwan’s success in agricultural technology as an instructive model for African economies seeking to address food insecurity and create employment opportunities for young people.
According to the legal luminary and statesman, “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.
“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.
“As Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, I am equally persuaded that universities must occupy a central place in this transformation. Stronger partnerships between Taiwanese and Nigerian universities can accelerate joint research, technology incubation, skills development, innovation, commercialisation and the preparation of a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs.
“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.
“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.
“I commend the organisers of Taiwan Smart Agriweek for creating this important platform, and I acknowledge HyCuTIPI’s continuing commitment to strengthening technology, innovation and economic linkages between Nigeria and Taiwan.”
Speaking further, Ndoma-Egba noted that, “The future of agriculture is increasingly smart, digital, sustainable and knowledge-driven. Nigeria’s private sector, universities and innovation community are ready for partnerships that can translate these possibilities into shared prosperity.”
Other members of the high-powered Nigerian delegation included HyCuTIPI President, Ambassador David Ademola Adejuwon, and its Legal Adviser, Barrister Peter Kayode Abodunrin.
The delegation also included prominent academic and institutional figures, including Professor Joshua Ogunwole, Vice-Chancellor of FUOYE, and Professor Jacob Babayemi, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho (FUNATO), in Oyo State.
HyCuTIPI is a not-for-profit organisation duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The organisation is dedicated to bridging technology, innovation, culture and global economic opportunities to promote inclusive and viable development for Nigerian interests.
According to information on its website, HyCuTIPI’s vision is to leverage the global technology and innovation wave for sustainable national economic growth and development, while its mission is to build strategic, private-sector-driven economic partnerships for a better future.
About The Author
