The Enugu State Government and the European Union (EU) have partnered to scale up their collaboration across key sectors such as energy, education, health and youth empowerment.

This emerged at the weekend during a courtesy visit to Governor Peter Mbah by a high-level EU delegation at the Government House, Enugu State.

The delegation, led by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, also included the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Pieter Leenknegt, and the Portuguese Ambassador, Mr. Paulos Martins dos Santos, among other senior diplomats.

Mignot said the EU was committed to strengthening cooperation in ways that align with Mbah’s ambitious reform agenda.

“The purpose of the visit is to meet you and talk about the partnership between the European Union and Enugu State, its potential, and your vision for the future,” he stated.

He highlighted ongoing EU-supported projects in the state, particularly in the energy and education sectors.

“On energy, Enugu is one of seven states benefiting from the Solar for Health Project, under which we will provide technical assistance and funding for 20 solar microgrids that will power 20 primary health centres and 124 SMEs,” he said.

The envoy also listed the Small Hydro Power for Agro-industrial Sectors Project, implemented by UNIDO, and the Nigeria Energy Support Programme executed by GIZ, which include electrification support, capacity building and funding for three interconnected mini-grids with a combined 1MW capacity for up to 1,000 beneficiaries.

On education, Mignot announced that Enugu is one of the beneficiary states in the EU-UNESCO programme, Education and Youth Empowerment in Nigeria, Expand, Integrate and Strengthen Systems (EISS), which will train teachers in Smart Green Schools until June 2028.

“On energy, Enugu is one of seven states benefiting from the Solar for Health Project, under which we will provide technical assistance and funding for 20 solar microgrids that will power 20 primary health centres and 124 SMEs,” he said.

The envoy also listed the Small Hydro Power for Agro-industrial Sectors Project, implemented by UNIDO, and the Nigeria Energy Support Programme executed by GIZ, which include electrification support, capacity building and funding for three interconnected mini-grids with a combined 1MW capacity for up to 1,000 beneficiaries.

On education, Mignot announced that Enugu is one of the beneficiary states in the EU-UNESCO programme, Education and Youth Empowerment in Nigeria, Expand, Integrate and Strengthen Systems (EISS), which will train teachers in Smart Green Schools until June 2028.

He further noted the EU’s partnership with the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival held annually in Enugu, saying the 2025 edition included grants and training for emerging filmmakers.

Belgian Ambassador Leenknegt underscored Belgium’s longstanding economic ties with Enugu, particularly through Emenite Limited, a Nigeria–Belgium joint venture established in 1961.

“They are delivering high-quality products and employing more than 300 people from the region. We will continue to foster this relationship,” he said.

Portugal’s Ambassador, Martins dos Santos, highlighted his country’s interests in energy, infrastructure and agriculture, noting that “the footprint of the European Union in this country is huge and multidimensional.”

Responding, Governor Mbah commended the EU for its alignment with his administration’s developmental priorities, particularly in education, health and energy.

“I have seen a huge alliance between our vision and the aims of the EU, especially regarding your programmes across Africa,” he said, noting that Enugu’s decision to allocate over 33 percent of its budget to education was to secure the state’s future competitiveness.

Mbah invited EU member countries to explore new investment opportunities in aviation, gas and energy, disclosing that the state-owned carrier, Enugu Air, had been launched, and that the international wing of Akanu Ibiam International Airport would soon become fully operational.

“That means more international carriers will fly from Enugu. We encourage you to speak to your home carriers to consider Enugu,” he said.

The Governor added that the state was working with the Federal Government to extend gas pipelines to Enugu to unlock economic opportunities in the gas subsector.

He assured that his government is open for business and will continue to ensure that investments and businesses thrive in the state.