…Minister Udeh Highlights Importance of First Ever Nigeria House to STI Ecosystem
Leading a high-level Nigerian delegation, Vice President Sen. Kashim Shettima, GCON, and the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochi Udeh, SAN, are attending the 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 in Davos, Switzerland.”
On Monday, January 19, 2026, the Vice president inaugurated Nigeria House in Davos, Switzerland, describing the pavilion as a clear signal of the country’s renewed commitment to active participation in the global economy.
The Vice President stated that the opening of Nigeria House reflects the country’s renewed seriousness, readiness, and resolve to take its place as an active participant in shaping global economic conversations.
According to a post on the Vice President’s official X handle, he emphasized that nations do not prosper in isolation and that Nigeria’s future growth depends on deliberate, structured engagement with the global economy.
“This day is extraordinary in the history of our engagements at this beautiful meeting point of global political leadership, policy thinkers, and corporate enterprise. For the first time in our nation’s history, Nigeria stands at Davos with a sovereign pavilion of its own.”
The Vice President stressed that although Nigeria House was conceived as a whole-of-government platform, bringing together leadership across trade, investment, foreign affairs, energy, infrastructure, technology, climate and culture, its success would ultimately be driven by private enterprise.
At the global forum, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochi Udeh, SAN, is engaging world leaders, investors, and technology stakeholders on innovation-led growth, Artificial Intelligence, emerging technologies, and sustainable economic development, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Nigeria is positioning Science, Technology and Innovation as a core driver of economic transformation, competitiveness, and inclusive national development.
Speaking on the impact and importance of the unveiled Nigeria House for the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) ecosystem of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, Udeh said:
“The House affords businesses, organizations, countries and innovators, attending the World Economic Forum this year and in the following years, opportunities to engage with any aspect of Nigeria’s economic or social interest for the purposes of investment; partnership in science, technology and innovation; among others. The Nigeria House will host events focused on opportunities across all sectors of Nigeria’s economy, national life, continental commitments and international engagements”.
On what the World Economic Forum in Davos will mean for science and technology, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria explained that it projects the opportunities in Nigeria’s STI ecosystem for global STI players; presents Nigeria’s current strategic priorities, focus and roadmap for STI; while inviting strategic partnerships from world political and business leaders in that regard.
He added that while engagements are ongoing, the Nigerian STI ecosystem has already recorded some successes, with more gains expected in the medium to long term.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, applauded Shettima’s support for the project, describing Nigeria House as a product of strong public-private partnership and a symbol of renewed national pride.
Other dignitaries at the event included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yano; heads of agencies and captains of industry.
The World Economic Forum 2026 runs from January 19 to 23, with the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochi Udeh, SAN, and the rest of Nigeria’s delegation also expected to participate in high-level discussions and bilateral engagements aimed at attracting investment aligned with th e country’s broader reform agenda.