Seville, Spain – Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), where he delivered a compelling national statement reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to financial inclusion, economic empowerment, and sustainable development. Minister Tuggar spotlighted the country’s strategic initiatives to enhance the capacity of its development finance institutions such as the Bank of Industry and the Bank of Agriculture, to better serve micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), with a targeted focus on empowering women and youth-led businesses.
During the conference, Minister Tuggar also delivered the keynote address at the launch of the Green Guarantee Group (GGG), underscoring Nigeria’s dedication to green financing and the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition, he held a series of high-level bilateral meetings aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s international partnerships. In his meeting with the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), discussions focused on deepening collaboration to boost job creation and SME growth in Nigeria, with both parties agreeing in principle to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide interest-free loans and broader support for small businesses.
In a separate discussion with Sweden’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister Tuggar requested Swedish technical expertise to help implement Nigeria’s newly signed tax reform policy, and also sought Sweden’s backing for Nigeria’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2030–2031 term. These diplomatic engagements highlight Nigeria’s proactive global outreach and commitment to driving inclusive economic development for its citizens through innovation, sustainability, and strategic international cooperation.
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