By: Ekunkonye Junior, Abuja.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged Germany to deepen economic cooperation with Nigeria, particularly in electricity, skills development and job creation.

Akpabio spoke on Thursday in Abuja when he hosted members of the German Bundestag Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development led by Professor Wolfgang Stefinger.

He said Nigeria and Germany have built over 60 years of friendship and the next step is to convert that trust into investment and factories that create jobs.

He noted that while governments negotiate partnerships, parliaments help to sustain them through laws, oversight and budget decisions that turn commitments into results.

Akpabio said Nigeria wants partnerships that build local capacity, transfer technology and connect Nigerian enterprises to wider markets.

He called for accelerated delivery of the Presidential Power Initiative with Siemens and investment in renewable energy, natural gas and sustainable infrastructure, saying no economy can industrialise with unreliable electricity.

The Senate President said Germany’s experience in technical education, apprenticeships and industry-linked training offers valuable lessons for Nigeria, especially in engineering, digital technology and artificial intelligence.

He appreciated Germany’s security cooperation and sought stronger collaboration in training, intelligence, counterterrorism and maritime protection, noting that a secure Nigeria strengthens stability in West Africa.

On migration and development, he advocated safe and lawful pathways, recognition of qualifications and respect for human dignity in returns and reintegration.

He proposed five outcomes from the visit, including sustained parliamentary dialogue, accelerated power cooperation, a skills and innovation partnership, improved access to investment finance and designated contacts to follow through.