The UK trade envoy to Nigeria, Florence Eshalomi MP, has pledged stronger trade and investment ties that could unlock new opportunities for Nigerian businesses across fintech, agriculture and manufacturing.
Eshalomi made the commitment during a four-day visit to Nigeria, which featured high-level meetings, business dialogues and direct engagements with entrepreneurs. The visit was part of efforts to strengthen the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP).
At the ETIP Business Dialogue in Lagos, co-hosted with the British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter and Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, uk and Nigerian business leaders discussed ways to address non-tariff barriers and create a more enabling business environment.
Commenting on the visit, Eshalomi said Nigeria remains a "powerhouse of innovation and enterprise," stressing that the UK is committed to helping Nigerian businesses expand globally. She pointed to fintech, agriculture and manufacturing as sectors with strong potential for collaboration.
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The envoy highlighted British International Investment's $7.5m injection into Babban Gona, a Nigerian agricultural enterprise, as proof of the UK's commitment to supporting food security, job creation and economic resilience.
Meetings were also held with Nigerian firms including LemFi, Interswitch and Zenith Bank to explore partnerships in the financial sector, initial public offerings (IPOs) and opportunities within the London Stock Exchange. In the tech space, Nigerian founders were introduced to the UK's Global Entrepreneurs Programme, designed to help startups scale internationally.
Eshalomi capped her visit with a strong UK presence at GITEX Nigeria 2025, where she moderated a panel titled Nigeria's fintech revolution: from local champions to global contenders, featuring Kuda Bank and PiggyVest — two Nigerian startups already expanding with UK support.
The envoy stressed that both governments, alongside the private sector, must continue to work together to ensure the partnership delivers inclusive growth for Nigerian businesses.
