Poland possesses well-tested cyber defence capabilities that can be shared with Nigeria, according to Ambassador Michał Cygan. The Polish Ambassador to Nigeria expressed his enthusiasm for deepening bilateral relations, identifying business, education, and agriculture as key areas of interest. In an interview, he assured that his embassy is committed to facilitating trade between the two nations.
Strengthening Polish-Nigerian Relations
Ambassador Cygan described his role as a privilege, with a primary goal of developing people-to-people connections. He has already engaged with various institutions and Polish-Nigerian families, noting promising opportunities for new partnerships. The ambassador emphasized that Polish-Nigerian cooperation should focus on business-oriented activities and academic exchanges, including scholarship programs.
Current Trade Relations and Potential
Cygan assessed the current trade relations between Nigeria and Poland as average compared to other European Union countries, but he believes there is significant unexplored potential. Poland, now the world's 20th largest economy and a member of the G20 in all but name, achieved a one-trillion-dollar economy in 2025. Nigeria, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, shares the ambition of reaching this economic milestone.
The ambassador explained that Polish businesses, having outgrown domestic and European markets, are now looking outward. He highlighted the successful Polish-Nigerian Economic Forum held in Lagos in September 2025, which facilitated new contacts and promising avenues for collaboration. The embassy and trade office in Lagos work together to support these exchanges.
Key Business Opportunities
Poland imports oil and gas from Nigeria, maintaining a traditional trade relationship. Additionally, Poland supports Nigeria in negotiations with the European Union for agricultural exports, including sesame, cocoa, and hibiscus. The ambassador noted Poland's technical expertise in meeting high agro-market standards and its robust agro-business, with exports exceeding €50 billion in 2025.
Rather than exporting food to Africa, Poland aims to share machinery, knowledge, and technical expertise to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance agricultural efficiency. In the Information Technology sector, Polish companies are active in West Africa, employing skilled professionals, particularly in cyber defence.
Cygan pointed out that Poland, facing numerous cyber attacks from Russia, has developed strong cyber defence skills that can benefit partners like Nigeria. Other sectors of cooperation include engineering, with Polish companies having contributed to the Lagos Port, pharmaceuticals, energy (renewables and traditional), and defence and security.
Poland's Competitive Edge
Unlike countries that rely on subsidies, Poland adopts a liberal market approach, allowing individual initiative to drive exports. The Polish trade office in Lagos facilitates participation in trade fairs, connects chambers of commerce, and provides information on legal frameworks to reduce market entry barriers. This strategy avoids artificial incentives, focusing instead on creating conditions for market-driven forces to thrive.
Education and Student Exchange
Approximately 4,000 Nigerian students are currently studying in Poland, with many more having graduated. Ambassador Cygan described this as a win-win area of cooperation, emphasizing Nigeria's abundance of ambitious and talented youth. He acknowledged the challenges of meeting study abroad criteria and adapting to different cultures but noted that many Nigerian students succeed in Poland, contributing to both countries upon their return.
Addressing Misinformation
The ambassador highlighted the growing importance of combating misinformation, a threat to democratic societies like Nigeria and Poland. He identified two main dangers: political misinformation from non-democratic governments and commercial misinformation from media enterprises prioritizing profit over truth. Cygan stressed the need to strengthen journalism, fact-checking, and educational systems to teach critical thinking and information quality assessment.
In summary, Ambassador Michał Cygan's vision for Polish-Nigerian relations encompasses economic growth, technological exchange, and educational collaboration, with cyber defence expertise standing out as a key area for shared development.
