Former Nigerian Senate Leader and current Pro-Chancellor/Chairman Governing Council of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, has called for a strategic shift in Nigeria-Taiwan relations, urging a transition from conventional trade to deep technological co-creation in agriculture.

Senator Ndoma-Egba made the call while delivering a goodwill message at the opening ceremony of the Taiwan Smart Agriweek 2026, held at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre from September 8 to 10.

The outing marked his first major international engagement after his recent appointment as the Grand Patron of the Hybrid Culture, Technology and Innovation Promotion Initiative (HyCuTIPI). He was among the high-level Nigerian delegation coordinated by HyCuTIPI at the Taiwan Agriweek 2026.

Addressing an international audience of diplomats, agricultural innovators, agronomists, investors, researchers, tech executives and policymakers, Ndoma-Egba who is also the Chairman Advisory Board of Start-Rite Schools, Abuja, stated that Taiwan’s success in agricultural technology serves as an instructive blueprint for African economies looking to solve food insecurity and generate youth employment.

According to the highly respected legal luminary and astute 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.”

The HyCuTIPI Grand Patron added that “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, he 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.

“May Taiwan-Nigeria economic and technological cooperation continue to flourish, and may the partnership among HyCuTIPI, MY Exhibition Co., Ltd. and our Taiwanese partners grow from strength to strength.”

Others on the high-powered Nigerian delegation included the HyCuTIPI President, Ambassador David Ademola Adejuwon, and Legal Adviser, Barrister Peter Kayode Abodunrin. The team also featured prominent academic and institutional voices, such as 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) and dedicated to bridging technology, innovation, culture, and global economic opportunities to drive inclusive, viable development for Nigerian interests.