The European Union Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, has announced a total financial package of €900 million (N728 billion) to drive programmes on energy, education and transport programmes across Nigeria.

Urpilainen made the announcement Thursday at the EU-Nigeria Strategic Meeting with Nigerian Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and other members of team Europe.

The package, which formed a central part of the EU-Nigeria cooperation to advance the country’s green, resilient, digital inclusive transition under government priorities and Global Gateway, was EU’s positive offer to deliver sustainable and trusted connections with partner countries.

Global Gateway is a new European strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport sectors as well as strengthen health, education and research systems across the world.

Commissioner Urpilainen said the visit to Nigeria was to further strengthen existing partnership while the new package was as part of the Global Gateway strategy and EU support to government priorities.

“Building on our long-standing cooperation and in the best spirit of shared responsibility, commitment and accountability, the EU will continue to invest in our common future and priorities of security, democracy and prosperity for all – not least through the package of loans and grants I am signing and launching here today that will benefit the Nigerian businesses, farmers, youth and the society as a whole.”

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, in his response, said the launch marked another milestone in the annals of the EU-Nigeria development cooperation.

Bagudu described the EU -Nigeria relations as one of the most vibrant development partnerships in terms of volume, thematic interventions, modalities and geographical spread in deployment of resources.

He was delighted that EU-Nigeria Strategic Dialogue was happening at the take-off of the current administration in Nigeria, noting that it will present opportunities for proper articulation and consolidation of priorities in the partnership.

Vice President, European Investment Bank (EIB), Ambroise Fayolle, also announced two financial agreements in health and entrepreneurship areas for Nigeria and the West African region. They comprised EMZOR Pharmaceutical Industries’ agreement towards accelerating treatments against malaria and provide healthcare access across the region. The second agreement has to do with improving access to finance for female entrepreneurs.

Falolle said: “The partnership with EMZOR Pharmaceutical Industries is a significant step towards accelerating treatments against malaria and healthcare access across the region while reducing the dependence on the importation of essential medicines.

“We are proud to accompany the development of a pioneer firm committed to strengthening the antimalarial supply chain and production.

“Supporting entrepreneurship is also at the heart of our action in Africa. With a new credit facility with Access Bank, our objective is to improve access to finance for female entrepreneurs and to stimulate job creation while supporting sustainable business practices aligned with green economy priorities.

“The EIB was the first multilateral development bank to adopt the 2X criteria for gender finance and we congratulate Access Bank’s management for their leadership in this space.”

Developed jointly between the EU and Nigeria, the package is expected to drive new programmes through Global Gateway. They include, Climate Smart Agriculture, €29 million; Sustainable energy, €37 million and Access to health services, €45 million.

The sum €5.4million has also been earmarked for education support to youth and education development in the North West region. This would be launched to contribute to policy improvement of the teaching profession and the capacity building of teachers.

In addition to these areas of support, the package will also contribute to building access in the Nigerian social protection safety net to the tune of €46 million, support to border management and reintegration of returnees to take €28.4 million, support to the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration of Boko Haram combatants in the North East region, €20 million and support to improving the criminal justice system, access to justice and the fight against corruption to take €30 million.