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Finland Ambassador to Nigeria, Sanna Selin

Strengthening Ties: An Exclusive Interview with Finnish Ambassador Sanna Selin on Nigeria-Finland Relations
In a recent sit-down with PREMIUM TIMES, Finland’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Sanna Selin, delved into the evolving bilateral relationship between the two nations. Covering topics from education and trade to energy transitions and the high-profile case of Biafra activist Simon Ekpa, the ambassador highlighted opportunities for deeper collaboration. This interview, conducted just days before Ekpa’s conviction and six-year prison sentence by a Finnish court on September 1, 2025, offers insights into Finland’s perspective on Nigeria as a key African partner. As Nigeria pushes for economic diversification and foreign investment, Ambassador Selin’s comments underscore mutual interests in innovation, sustainability, and peace-building.

Education: Leveraging Finnish Expertise for Nigeria’s Systemic Reforms
Finland’s education system is renowned worldwide for its emphasis on holistic learning, teacher training, and skills development beyond the classroom. Ambassador Selin noted that while scholarships have long been a bridge between the two countries, Finland is now supporting broader systemic reforms in Nigeria.
“We are supporting Nigeria with systemic reforms through our comprehensive teachers’ training programme,” she explained. A notable example includes a group of teachers from Lagos who underwent in-service training in Finland. The ambassador also highlighted Finland’s “education outside the classroom” model, which fosters early skill-building and has proven vital for child development.

Finland Ambassador to Nigeria, Sanna Selin

Further cooperation involves partnerships between Finnish universities—particularly universities of applied sciences—and Nigerian institutions. These initiatives focus on funding, curriculum development, and teacher training. With more English-language programs available in Finland, Ambassador Selin encouraged Nigerian students to apply, emphasizing the straightforward process: “It’s basically just taking the exam, applying to the schools. Many Nigerians have been very successful.”

She expressed hope that returning Nigerian graduates would contribute to national development through knowledge transfer, aligning with Finland’s broader goal of capacity building in Africa.

Trade and Investment: From Modest Volumes to Promising Growth
Despite strong diplomatic ties since the 1960s, trade between Nigeria and Finland remains modest. Ambassador Selin attributed this partly to Finland’s shift away from fossil fuels, reducing imports of Nigerian oil and gas. However, she sees this as an opportunity for diversification into renewables.
“We are trying to diversify our economy to renewable energy,” she said, pointing to ongoing diplomatic visits and explorations. A key initiative is the Nordic-Nigeria Connect, a business platform held three times previously and scheduled again for October 2025 in Lagos. This event will connect hundreds of companies from Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark with Nigerian firms in green economy, digital services, and health sectors.
Ambassador Selin praised Nigeria’s investment-friendly policies under the current administration, which she believes could attract Finnish private sector interest in emerging areas like the digital economy, renewable energy, and creative industries. Finland’s priorities in Nigeria include ICT, energy, circular economy, and health.
“In the long run, yes,” she responded when asked about potential investments. “The first step is to increase awareness of Nigeria in Finland.” She highlighted gaming, animation, and digital media as untapped areas for collaboration, alongside clean energy solutions to address Nigeria’s power challenges.
Nigeria’s Role in Finland’s Africa Strategy
In Finland’s 2021 Africa Strategy, the focus has shifted from aid to trade, aiming for mutually beneficial partnerships. Ambassador Selin described Nigeria as the “giant of Africa,” a regional power and ECOWAS hub, making it a priority over traditional partners in East and Southern Africa.
“We see Nigeria as an important player here,” she stated. “It’s very, very important to have a closer partnership.” This includes knowledge transfer in technology and education, with Finnish expertise in training trainers and job creation. In the health sector, Finland is exploring “Centres of Excellence” in Nigerian hospitals to reduce medical tourism and attract regional patients. On taxation, while Finland has supported countries like Kenya in broadening tax bases, similar cooperation with Nigeria could be pursued if interest arises. Ambassador Selin linked Finland’s robust social services to its high taxation system, suggesting lessons for Nigeria’s reforms.

Simon Ekpa (CREDIT: @AkpraiseMedia Xpage)