Nigerian-born UK Minister Kemi Badenoch arrives Nigeria for trade partnership

The Minister for Business and Trade in the United Kingdom (UK), Kemi Badenoch, has arrived in Nigeria for a three-day visit to deepen the UK-Nigeria partnership.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the UK Mission in Nigeria made this known.

Following the former Foreign Secretary’s visit to Nigeria in August 2023 and last week’s UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Talks, Minister Badenoch is expected to take forward ongoing efforts by both countries to boost the UK-Nigeria trade relationship and unlock new investment opportunities.

While in the country, the Nigerian-born Kemi Badenoch and the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Nigeria, Helen Grant, will have meetings with the Federal Government, State Governors, as well as British and Nigerian business leaders and investors.

The statement disclosed that the minister will discuss trade and investment opportunities ranging from energy and infrastructure projects to education, to potentially generate thousands of employment.

Minister Badenoch aims to enhance the cooperation between the United Kingdom and Nigeria, eliminate trade and investment obstacles, expand business between the two nations, and guarantee that Nigeria has more access to the City of London’s facilitative role for global business.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, while speaking on her visit to Nigeria, said, “Nigeria is one of the UK’s most important partners in Africa. We are committed to helping Nigeria unlock new investment opportunities, supporting more UK and international investment through the City of London, and thereby creating jobs in both our countries.

“Recent big and bold reforms by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Central Bank are boosting optimism amongst international investors that the country is on the right path and are creating the conditions for growth.”

The Rt. Hon. Kemi Badenoch MP was appointed Secretary of State for the Department for Business and Trade on February 7, 2023.

She remains Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade, which she was appointed to on 6 September 2022, and Minister for Women and Equalities for the Equality Hub, which she was appointed to on 25 October 2022.