The presentation featured contributions from Oluwatosin Adebayo, First Secretary and Economic & Commercial Attaché at the Nigerian Embassy in Germany, and Chioma Aisha Okorie-Haidara, Minister and Head of Chancery for Information, Culture and Education at the Embassy. Adebayo’s remarks focused on Nigeria’s economic development and its expanding network of international partnerships, outlining investment opportunities across key sectors and emphasizing the country’s ambition to diversify its economic relationships. Dr. Okorie-Haidara addressed Nigeria’s cultural diplomacy framework, highlighting initiatives in education, cultural exchange, and international outreach aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s global engagement.

The Nigerian presentation followed a keynote address by Florencia Eugenia Vilanova de von Oehsen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of El Salvador to Germany, who spoke on sustainable investment and tourism development in her country. Her remarks placed Nigeria’s presentation within a broader comparative discussion of emerging economies seeking to leverage sustainable growth strategies to attract international partnerships. The participation of the Nigerian Embassy at the forum, reflects the continued momentum in relations between Nigeria and Germany. In November 2025, the two countries convened the 5th Nigeria-Germany Bi-National Commission in Berlin, marking 65 years of diplomatic relations and reaffirming cooperation across energy, trade, security, migration, and cultural heritage. Bilateral trade reached approximately €3 billion in 2024, confirming Germany’s position as Nigeria’s second-largest European trading partner.

Cultural diplomacy has become a particularly visible dimension of this relationship. A notable milestone was Germany’s restitution of the Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, as well as an act widely recognized as a significant gesture of historical acknowledgement and mutual respect. Against this backdrop, the forum sessions in Potsdam, provided an additional platform for the Nigerian Embassy to present the country’s development priorities to an international audience while strengthening dialogue with diplomatic, academic, and business stakeholders.

The Nigerian delegation’s participation at the Berlin Economic Forum 2026 underscored the growing intersection between diplomacy, culture, and economic cooperation. By presenting Nigeria’s development vision and investment landscape to an international audience, the Embassy highlighted how cultural diplomacy can complement economic engagement and foster durable partnerships. As Nigeria continues to expand its ties with Germany and the broader European community, initiatives such as the Berlin Economic Forum play a vital role in promoting dialogue, encouraging investment, and reinforcing collaborative approaches to sustainable development.

• https://www.linkedin.com/posts/institute-for-cultural-diplomacy_berlineconomicforum-culturaldiplomacy-elsalvador-activity-7435705915397529600-V90N?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAFlymI0BKrIDYV9r3-olSjNb9n5E1wQmyF8
• https://foreignaffairs.gov.ng/news/nigeria-and-germany-deepen-strategic-ties-at-the-5th-bi-national-commission/
• https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/11/nigeria-germany-strengthen-cooperation-on-power-security-economy-others/
• https://von.gov.ng/nigeria-germany-reaffirm-commitment-to-deepen-bilateral-cooperation/
• https://www.theheritagetimes.com/nigeria-germany-advance-strategic-partnership-following-high-level-diplomatic-talks/